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Home » Roberto Pannunzi’s Venezuelan ID Scandal Reveals Alarming Inconsistencies in Colombian Defense Ministry’s Claims

Roberto Pannunzi’s Venezuelan ID Scandal Reveals Alarming Inconsistencies in Colombian Defense Ministry’s Claims

The Colombian Ministry of Defense announced today that Roberto Pannunzi, a leader linked to the ‘Ndrangheta mafia from Calabria, was captured in Bogotá during a joint operation by the Colombian Police and the Anti-Drug Directorate. According to the Ministry of Defense, Pannunzi identified himself with a fake Venezuelan ID – under the name of Silvano Martino – when he was detained at a shopping mall in northern Bogotá.

However, the Venezuelan Twitter user @InformadorVeraz reported that the Venezuelan ID of Silvano Martino (22.183.207) is listed in the National Electoral Registry (Registro Electoral). This raises the question for the Colombian Ministry of Defense: how can they claim that Pannunzi’s Venezuelan ID was fake when it is registered in Venezuela’s electoral roll?

@InformadorVeraz intervenes and asks if the Ministry of Defense of Colombia suggests that individuals with false identifications can register to vote in Venezuela’s electoral registry:

Hey @mindefensa, are you saying people can register fake IDs in the rep in Venezuela? http://t.co/iMNH8RpExx indefinido

— InformadorVeraz (@InformadorVeraz) July 7, 2013