Colombia border reopened after crackdown

Venezuela began reopening its border with Colombia on Tuesday earlier than expected after shutting it last week amid a crackdown on smugglers and criminal gangs. President Nicolas Maduro had said crossings along the 2,200-kilometer (1,400-mile) frontier between the South American neighbors would remain closed until Jan. 2. That, combined with the elimination of Venezuela’s largest […]

Venezuela began reopening its border with Colombia on Tuesday earlier than expected after shutting it last week amid a crackdown on smugglers and criminal gangs. President Nicolas Maduro had said crossings along the 2,200-kilometer (1,400-mile) frontier between the South American neighbors would remain closed until Jan. 2.

That, combined with the elimination of Venezuela’s largest currency note, had interrupted long-rampant contraband of goods and cash by gangs on both sides. But it also dismayed many Colombians resident in Venezuela hoping to return for Christmas holidays.