Violence by criminal gangs keeps several sectors of the west and the center of Caracas in suspense

(CNN Spanish) – Users of social networks and journalists who cover police activity have reported since Wednesday the shootings of criminal groups in popular and middle-class sectors of the west and central Caracas, such as Cota 905, La Vega, El Paraíso, El Cementerio and Quinta Crespo .

In videos circulating on social networks taken from buildings, consecutive detonations can be heard at different times of the day.

After almost a day of silence, the Minister of the Interior and Justice, Carmen Meléndez, reported this Thursday on Twitter that the authorities began an operation in some sectors of the Venezuelan capital, specifically in the parishes of La Vega, Santa Rosalía, El Paraíso, San Juan and El Valle.

According to this information, the government is restricting traffic and has asked people not to circulate in those sectors.

Meléndez pointed out that since the afternoon of July 7, organized crime groups “intend to undermine the peace of various sectors of Caracas” and assured that the authorities “will not rest” until they regain control of the area.

Meléndez did not specify if there are deaths or injuries.

CNN contacted the Public Ministry and the Vice Ministry of Prevention and Citizen Security to find out more details and has not yet received a response.

Osmary Hernández contributed to this report.