HomeNewsBriefVenezuela Set to Mass Produce Kalashnikovs, Sniper Rifles
BRIEF

Venezuela Set to Mass Produce Kalashnikovs, Sniper Rifles

VENEZUELA / 19 JUL 2012 BY CHRISTOPHER LOOFT EN

Venezuela is nearing completion of an arms factory which will produce 25,000 Kalashnikov and sniper rifles a year, a development which could have troublesome implications for the conflict in neighboring Colombia.

In a June 13 televised speech, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez praised an arms factory in Aragua state, constructed with Russian assistance. Though it is still waiting on equipment from Russia, when production is at full capacity the factory will be able to produce 25,000 rifles and 60 million rounds a year. The factory has already produced 3,000 AK-103 assault rifles, according to Chavez.

The factory (see video below) will produce a series of rifles, which the president referred to as "Catatumbo" rifles. The guns will be available in various calibers, including a .50 caliber anti-materiel version which can be used against vehicles and helicopters. The first of these will be delivered to the military in September.

General Julio Cesar Morales Prieto, head of Venezuela's state-run Cavim arms company, also claimed that the factory will produce a grenade launcher compatible with the AK-103. When the factory is finished Venezuela will produce 18,000 of these a year, with 200 to be produced in September.

InSight Crime Analysis

The largest rebel group in neighboring Colombia, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are likely to take an interest in this factory. Given that Venezuela has been accused of using the FARC as strategic leverage against neighboring Colombia, there have long been concerns the group may be arming itself in Venezuela, where illicit weapons are extremely common.

The FARC is no stranger to raiding (or buying) government arms stockpiles, so if it wants to avoid accusations it is arming the FARC, Venezuela will need to take precautionary measures to ensure these rifles do not fall into the hands of the rebels.

The guerrilla group is increasingly relying on sniper attacks, and one of "Catatumbo" rifles to be produced reportedly has an effective range of 800 meters, making it an ideal choice for FARC snipers. Additionally, if the rebels were able to get a regular supply of .50 caliber anti-materiel rifles, they could better deter helicopter attacks, denying the Colombian security forces a key advantage: air superiority. For the same reason, the group has reportedly sought anti-air missiles from the Venezuelan authorities, but has apparently failed since none have been seen in combat.

share icon icon icon

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

What are your thoughts? Click here to send InSight Crime your comments.

We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article. Check the Creative Commons website for more details of how to share our work, and please send us an email if you use an article.

Tags

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

Related Content

COLOMBIA / 26 MAY 2022

Until his death, Gentil Duarte was the most-wanted man in Colombia and one of South America's leading drug traffickers.

VENEZUELA / 15 FEB 2023

Hermágoras González Polanco has been active in Venezuela's drug trafficking scene for over four decades, thanks to his ability to…

VENEZUELA / 13 FEB 2023

Erick Alberto Parra Mendoza, alias “Yeico Masacre”, is the leader of one of the most violent gangs in Venezuela's state…

About InSight Crime

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela Coverage Continues to be Highlighted

3 MAR 2023

This week, InSight Crime co-director Jeremy McDermott was the featured guest on the Americas Quarterly podcast, where he provided an expert overview of the changing dynamics…

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela's Organized Crime Top 10 Attracts Attention

24 FEB 2023

Last week, InSight Crime published its ranking of Venezuela’s ten organized crime groups to accompany the launch of the Venezuela Organized Crime Observatory. Read…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime on El País Podcast

10 FEB 2023

This week, InSight Crime co-founder, Jeremy McDermott, was among experts featured in an El País podcast on the progress of Colombia’s nascent peace process.

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime Interviewed by Associated Press

3 FEB 2023

This week, InSight Crime’s Co-director Jeremy McDermott was interviewed by the Associated Press on developments in Haiti as the country continues its prolonged collapse. McDermott’s words were republished around the world,…

THE ORGANIZATION

Escaping Barrio 18

27 JAN 2023

Last week, InSight Crime published an investigation charting the story of Desafío, a 28-year-old Barrio 18 gang member who is desperate to escape gang life. But there’s one problem: he’s…