Leaked emails from Mexico's Ministry of Defense, reported by OCCRP and circulating on social media as of October 1st, 2025, reveal an alleged "Air Bridge" operating between Venezuela and Belize for drug trafficking purposes. The exact timing of the leak or the alleged operations was not specified within the reporting. Details from the leaked correspondence suggest a coordinated effort involving illicit activities, though the specific contents and authenticity of the emails are pending independent verification. The report from OCCRP outlines the findings from these filtrated communications. Separately, a Russian Defense Ministry IL-62m aircraft, call sign RFF7181 and registration RA-86495, was tracked east of Granada on October 1st, 2025, with its flight path apparently originating from Africa and likely transiting through Caracas, Venezuela. This flight information was shared by Flightwatcher1 via social media. This development follows Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's announcement on October 1st, 2025, of a potential shift in his country's defense strategy, signaling a move away from conflict. The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Truxtun also docked in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on the same day, adding geopolitical context to regional activities, though no direct link to the alleged air bridge has been established.
