10 Iranians arrested in Panama with fake documents from Venezuela

Panama announced that it had arrested 10 Iranian citizens who were trying to enter the country from Venezuela with fake documents. The individuals, who were carrying fake German residence cards, were sent back to their country of origin.

Panama's National Immigration Agency announced on Sunday, February 13, that it had arrested 10 Iranian citizens.

Panamanian authorities say these people, who attempted to enter Panama with fake documents, have been sent back to their country of origin.

The Panamanian authorities' news did not specify whether the country of origin was Venezuela or Iran.

These 10 Iranian citizens had arrived at Tucumán International Airport carrying fake German residence cards.

It is said that the people were planning to continue their journey to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and were on a plane that had flown from Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.

Panamanian authorities have also said that although the German residence cards presented by these Iranian nationals were proven to be fake, they were able to leave Caracas without any problems.

Since 2015, there have been numerous reports that the government of Nicolas Maduro is providing Iranian citizens with fake passports, most of which are Venezuelan passports.

In 2015, the Canadian government was forced to completely ban entry from Venezuela due to an influx of people with Venezuelan passports. These people were not Venezuelans, but mainly Iranian, Syrian, and Lebanese nationals.

Raisi's government seeks to expand relations with Venezuela

According to other reports, the Islamic Republic's ambassador to Venezuela considered expanding trade relations with Latin American countries, especially Venezuela, an opportunity for the Ebrahim Raisi government.

According to ILNA news agency, Hojatollah Soltani, Iran's ambassador to Venezuela, emphasized that it is definitely more difficult to export Iranian products and productions extensively to European countries than to Latin America, saying: "Iranian products and productions have a stronger market in Latin America, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia."

Referring to the transportation platforms created between Iran and Venezuela, Soltani stated: "Currently, the Tehran-Caracas flight route is in operation, although this route is currently non-commercial and operates once a week.

According to him, the CEO of Venezuela's national airline will be sent to Iran before March 21, and Venezuela is seeking to establish regular flights between Iran.

He also said that visas have been canceled between Iran and Venezuela, and "enthusiasts and travelers do not need a visa to travel to Venezuela and can leave for Venezuela at any time they wish."

Referring to the change in Venezuela's policies from socialist to a free market economy, Soltani said that today the Venezuelan government is pursuing a free market economy, and the multiple-price system has been removed and a single-price system prevails.

The Iranian ambassador to Venezuela added, "Currently, all Venezuelan banks are connected to SWIFT and there are no sanctions against them."

Soltani said that currently, goods such as wood, petroleum coke, and scrap iron have good buyers in Venezuela, and we can use this market to increase foreign exchange earnings.

Source: DW