Residents share terrifying experience as illegal operation infiltrates community: '[Everyone turns] a blind eye'

Residents share terrifying experience as illegal operation infiltrates community: '[Everyone turns] a blind eye'

Resource extraction has spurred a wave of violence across Venezuela, according to a new study by Global Witness. What's happening? An exploding demand for raw materials has driven extreme levels of exploitation.  Oil extraction in Venezuela's western state of Zulia and gold mining in the southern Amazonas region have been propped up by corrupt military officials and gangs willing to extort and intimidate locals in order to maintain control of re…