Venezuela's Sabaneta jail search yields weapons arsenal

A security sweep of Venezuela's Sabaneta
prison, where 16 inmates were killed in
gang violence, has uncovered more than a
hundred weapons and tens of thousands of
rounds of ammunition.
Inmates were temporarily moved from
Sabaneta, near the city of Maracaibo, after the
violent fight between rival gangs two weeks
ago.
Some of the victims were reportedly
decapitated and dismembered.
Prisons in Venezuela are notoriously
overcrowded and riots are not uncommon.

Hidden stash

Prison Minister Iris Varela said guards had
searched about half of the prison grounds so
far, seizing more than 22,000 rounds of
ammunition, as well as pistols and rifles.
The sweep also uncovered tunnels of up to
15m (50ft) depth, in which more than 12kg
(26lb) of marijuana and cocaine were stored.
"The weight of the law will fall heavily on
those bandits found to be smuggling these
items into jail," Ms Varela said.
She said the weapons would be melted down
and the steel used in the construction of new
homes.
According to data gathered by the pressure
group Venezuelan Prison Observatory,
Sabaneta is Venezuela's most violent prison,
with 69 people killed behind its bars so far
this year.
Venezuela has one of the highest crime and
homicide rates in Latin America and the
judicial system is struggling to cope with the
caseload.
The prison population has been increasing with
many of those incarcerated waiting for trial.
The Venezuelan Prison Observatory says that
80% of jails are run by armed inmates, with
the security forces having little or no control.