National Guard (GN) officers at Regional Command 1 at Paracal in Tachira state have seized 277 kilograms of mercury as it was being smuggled into Venezuela by a Colombian national who has been detained awaiting a court appearance.

Commanding officer, General Gabriel Oviedo said the mercury -- used principally for the manufacture of cocaine and in mining -- was transported in a vehicle owned by the as yet un-named detainee, who was stopped by the National Guard at a border control.

During preliminary investigation the detainee has admitted that he was heading for southeastern Bolivar State where the issue of environmental damage caused by contaminants like mercury in illegal mining is very high on the political agenda.