Venezuela arrests four police officers over looting after devastating earthquakes

Search and rescue operations continued across Venezuela following the powerful earthquakes that struck the country, while authorities arrested four police officers in La Guaira state for allegedly taking part in looting.

According to a report by Europa Press, those detained were officers assigned to the Scientific, Criminal and Criminal Investigations Corps.

In a statement, Venezuelan police said the four officers failed to carry out their duties during search and rescue operations and instead appropriated valuables they found in the rubble.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated against the officers, who have also been dismissed from the force.

Speaking at a press conference, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello condemned the officers’ actions.

“We immediately decided to dismiss the four personnel responsible for these immoral acts. They have been handed over to the justice system in accordance with the law. We will show absolutely no tolerance toward those who act against ethical and professional standards while wearing the official uniform. It is unacceptable for anyone to seek personal gain from the suffering of others. Through these actions, they have disgraced the uniform they wore,” Cabello said.

Venezuela was struck on the evening of June 24 by two earthquakes measuring between magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, occurring roughly 40 seconds apart. As of June 30, more than 1,700 people had been confirmed dead, while more than 43,000 others remained unaccounted for.

Search efforts are continuing in the affected areas, where rescue teams are still working to pull survivors from beneath the rubble.

The earthquakes that struck in June rank among the five strongest in Venezuela’s recorded history. The magnitude 7.5 quake is reported to be the country’s most powerful earthquake in the past century.

The disaster has also been recorded as the fourth and fifth strongest earthquakes to hit Venezuela since record-keeping began in 1900.