Venezuela clears prison following video of armed inmates

CARACAS, Venezuela _ Venezuelan authorities have begun to clear a prison on the Caribbean island of Margarita after a video circulated appearing to show inmates shooting heavy weapons inside the facility’s walls.

Correctional Facilities Minister Iris Varela said Tuesday that officials were evacuating the San Antonio Prison on Margarita.

The move comes a month after the release of a video appearing to show inmates shooting guns into the air in memory of a fallen gang leader. Opposition politicians said the video proved the government has lost control of prisons.

Varela responded to the video by saying the government would inspect the facility and remove inmates’ guns.

Venezuela’s prisons are notoriously overcrowded and violent. The government has recently increased control at several facilities as part of a larger prison system restructuring.

The Associated Press