Colombia expels 80 Venezuelans over alleged crimes

Colombia expelled 80 Venezuelans on Friday, alleging they may have committed crimes, as President Abelardo de la Espriella continues hardline security policies introduced after he took office.

Buses carried the Venezuelans, some with their hands tied, to the Tienditas border bridge. Immigration officials from Colombia and Venezuela gave the group coffee, water and bread while paperwork was completed.

De la Espriella wrote on X that the recorded behaviour included theft, drug trafficking, extortion, criminal conspiracy, carrying bladed weapons, consumption of psychoactive substances and disrespect for authority. Colombian courts had not convicted any of the individuals.

The people being deported reached Cucuta from Bogota by military plane. A military source said several planes have landed in Cucuta for the same reason since De la Espriella took power almost three months ago, including one from Medellin last week carrying dozens of Venezuelans.

Around 2.8 million Venezuelan migrants live in Colombia, including more than 527,000 who are undocumented, official figures show. Between De la Espriella’s swearing-in and October 29, Colombian immigration authorities recorded 812 expulsions and deportations of people of various nationalities.