Thread: Venezuela considers shooting down drug planes

Venezuela considers shooting down drug planes

The Associated Press
8:12 p.m. September 17, 2009

Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez said Thursday he's mulling the possibility of allowing Venezuela's air force to shoot down suspected drug planes, but he is not convinced it's a good idea.

"We are studying it. This is something tough. There are countries that have it: authorization to shoot down planes," Chavez said. "I don't like the idea, but I'm thinking about it."

Venezuelan air force jets recently pursued a suspected drug plane, he said, but its pilot ignored orders to land the aircraft and continued flying undisturbed through Venezuelan territory.

"We detect many planes that are used for drug smuggling," Chavez said. "Sometimes they mock our pilots."

The former paratroop commander did not elaborate or explain why he had doubts.

U.S. officials say Chavez's government has failed to effectively fight drug smuggling within Venezuelan territory.

Chavez counters that his country is doing everything it can to combat trafficking and that U.S. authorities should do more to stem the flow of drugs into the United States and reduce demand for narcotics.

"The one to blame for the massive drug production and drug trafficking is the United States," he said.

Chavez tends to have a strict position on some types of "vice" issues.