Venezuela said Monday it has suspended Portuguese airline TAP for three months after accusing it of allowing a relative of opposition leader Juan Guaido to travel with explosives. Juan Marquez – Guaido’s uncle – was arrested upon returning to Venezuela alongside the parliament speaker last week, accused of having explosives hidden in various objects in his luggage. Announcing the suspension of TAP for “serious irregularities,” Transport Minister Hipolito Abreu said it could become a permanent ban. Maduro’s government also accuses TAP of hiding Guaido’s name from the official passenger list and using a false identity for him. TAP is one of the few foreign airlines still operating flights to and from Venezuela.

Source: Punch February 17, 2020 19:18 UTC