CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan authorities say they have arrested 26 people, including some National Guard troops, on suspicion of links to a case in which a plane loaded with drugs left the country and reached Spain.
Prosecutor General Luisa Ortega said in the statement on Tuesday that the suspects are to appear in court.
Venezuelan Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami said earlier this week that officials had cooperated with Spanish authorities who seized a drug shipment aboard the private jet in the Canary Islands. He said the plane departed without authorization on Sunday from an airport in the Venezuelan city of Valencia.
President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday that National Guard troops are among those detained. Spanish police couldn't be reached for comment, and Venezuelan officials didn't provide details of the drug bust.
