Venezuelan military arrests 6 alleged Colombian rebels on extortion charges
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- The Venezuelan military has arrested six men
on
extortion charges and says it suspects they are members of a Colombian
rebel
group.
The men were arrested Tuesday and Wednesday in a sting operation in the
western border town of San Cristobal, said Felipe Rodriguez, regional
commander of the Venezuelan National Guard.
He said one of the men confessed to being a member of the National Liberation
Army, or ELN, Colombia's second-largest rebel group. Investigators believe
the
other suspects are also ELN members, Rodriguez said.
The suspects, who are accused of demanding more than $80,000 from
residents, will be tried in a military court.
Extortion is a key source of funds for the rebels. It is widespread along
the
Venezuela-Colombia border, Rodriguez said, though armed attacks in Venezuela
are rare.
"They've dedicated themselves to taking Venezuelan money instead of attacking
us," Rodriguez said.
The National Guard caught two of the men by hiding cameras in a Jeep
Cherokee that an alleged extortion victim handed over to them. Two other
men
were found waiting in a nearby car, Rodriguez said.
The suspect who confessed led investigators to two other men who were
charged Wednesday, Rodriguez said.
He said one of the arrested men was also wanted by police in the kidnapping
of a
local girl seven months ago.