Bolivarian National Guard of Venezuela

Bolivarian National Guard of Venezuela
Guardia Nacional Bolivariana de Venezuela
National Guard emblem
Founded1937; 87 years ago (1937)
Country Venezuela
BranchNational Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela
TypeMilitary police
RoleGendarmerie, forestry protection, civil defense, public order and safety, border control, highway security, coastal security
Size23,000
Part ofMinistry of Defense, Ministry of Interior and Justice
Nickname(s)Spanish: Centinelas Permanentes de la Patria
The Fatherland's Permanent Sentries
PatronOur Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá
Motto(s)Spanish: El honor es su divisa
Honor is its emblem
ColorsMaroon
AnniversariesAugust 4, National Guard Day
Commanders
Minister of DefenseMajor General Vladimir Padrino López
Minister of the Interior, Justice and PeaceAdmiral Remigio Ceballos
Commanding General of the National GuardMajor General Elio Ramón Estrada Paredes[1]
Insignia
Flag

The Bolivarian National Guard of Venezuela (Spanish: Guardia Nacional Bolivariana de Venezuela - GNB), is a gendarmerie component of the National Armed Forces of Venezuela. The national guard can serve as gendarmerie, perform civil defense roles, or serve as a reserve light infantry force. The national guard was founded on 4 August 1937 by the then President of the Republic, General-in-Chief Eleazar López Contreras. The motto of the GNB is "El Honor es su divisa" ("Honor is its emblem"), slightly different from the motto of the Spanish Civil Guard "El Honor es mi divisa" ("Honor is my emblem").

The branch is recognized for its human rights violations under the Bolivarian government and its alleged involvement in international drug trafficking through the Cartel of the Suns.[2]

  1. ^ "Nicolás Maduro designó a Elio Estrada como nuevo comandante general de la GNB".
  2. ^ Venezuela: A Mafia State?. Medellin, Colombia: InSight Crime. 2018. pp. 3–84.