Or outright confiscate the ship and sell it, they’ve apparently been known to do that.
It says there were “warning shots” which were probably a couple of bursts across the bow of tracers from the .50-cals. Heavier ammunition’s expensive.
But it would not look good to be [del]holding for ransom[/del] demanding fines under threat of confiscation if it’s got burnt out holes and a few dead citizens of other countries in it.
And here’s the Venezuelan explanation via wikipedia:
Nicolás Maduro accused the captain of the cruise ship of “piracy” and “terrorism,” adding later that he did not rule out that RCGS Resolute was “carrying mercenaries to attack onshore military bases.” The Venezuelan minister of defence said RCGS Resolute’s action was an act of “imperial aggression.”
Right. Maybe they also can’t “rule out” that the cruise ship was carrying shape-shifting lizard people! The Venezuelan Navy were just trying to save the planet!
Good job Maduro. Most pathetic excuse of the year.
Oh they have a sense of humor all right, anything to do with defecation for example. They think the phrase “trolls hiding under outhouses with red-hot pokers” is knee-slappingly hilarious.
Given they were deliberately rammed, I don’t know if I’d willingly take any of the crew on board, as there’s a risk of them trying to commandeer the ship.
In a dramatic turnaround in the world’s most embarrassing war, Venezuelan farmers defeat the Green Berets.
Drop them enough life rafts and some medical supplies. I would be surprised if there isn’t a set of complete video and audio recordings of the entire event that can be drawn upon in court … complete with them refusing help.
Fishermen, not farmers, but close enough. The mercs were lured by a multi-megabuck reward offered by Pompeo but where did their backing come from? A QAnon GoFundMe? A sanitized Trump fund? The merc filibusteros leaders had been Trump security. Is this yet more proof that everything this POTUS touches, dies?
Well, these idiots might. All the Presidential pardons in the world won’t save your ass in a South American prison. Although I can see Venezuela keeping them around until after Jan. 20, 2021, when they can free them as a good-will gesture or a bribe, depending.