Caracas, October 22 (RHC) – The Venezuelan military has downed two drug-smuggling aircraft, the head of the armed forces strategic operational command said Monday.

According to General Vladimir Padrino, both of the aircraft that were shot down after the crews ignored orders to land under surveillance. Both planes had taken off from Central America, "apparently coming from Guatemala," the general added.

The first plane had been neutralized on October 19th when the intruder entered national airspace, and the same procedure was used against another that entered today before dawn, Padrino said.

A third light plane was previously intercepted and ordered to land land Saturday morning in the southwestern state of Apure, in a previously unknown airfield, the general said.

On October 2nd Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said: "Let it be known to international drug traffickers that, starting today, any plane entering Venezuela will be ordered to land, and if it does not, it will be shot down."