Mexico City, Jan 13 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Venezuelan law-enforcers have seized a light plane transporting 530 kg of cocaine but the plane's crew managed to escape.
The seizure was made Saturday in the western state of Apure along the border with Colombia.
The operation was carried out by the Venezuelan National Guard in cooperation with Colombian law-enforcers.
Venezuelan security forces confiscated more than 45 metric tonnes of drugs last year, including 27 tonnes of cocaine, up three tonnes since 2011 and about twice the amount seized in 1999.
President Hugo Chavez suspended cooperation with the US Drug Enforcement Administration in 2005. The US government regularly accuses Venezuelan authorities of not cooperating in the fight against drug trafficking.