Venezuela closes borders with ABC islands

willemstad - Venezuela has closed the border for 72 hours for all trade with Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. President Nicolas Maduro wants to prevent this in his country from being shipped scarce food to the ABC countries.

'They are Mafias who are waging war against us', according to Maduro, the traders who, in his view, export basic products as well as gold, diamonds and copper to the Dutch islands. 'It's enough', said the president after his decision Friday in the palace Mirafloes in the capital Caracas: 'Ya basta!'

Maduro puts part of the solution on the board of the island governments. 'I want the authorities of these islands to take the measures we have demanded in the next 72 hours. 'It is unclear exactly which measures are involved. Curacao and Aruba are autonomous within the Kingdom, but Bonaire is a Dutch municipality.

The trade between the Venezuelan coast and the ABC islands has been a thorn in the eye for Maduro. The socialist-led country has a big shortage of food. But the islands are dependent on Venezuelan boats for the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables.

The crisis in Venezuela has also created a stream of illegal immigrants who want to flee to the Dutch islands. In addition, gangs operate to smuggle arms and drugs to the Dutch Kingdom. Maduro has announced to introduce strict border controls in the most used Venezuelan ports.