MEXICO, January 13 (RIA Novosti) – Venezuelan law-enforcers have seized a light plane transporting 530 kg of cocaine on Saturday, local media reported.

The seizure was made in the western state of Apure on the border with Colombia. The plane's crew managed to escape.

The operation was carried out by the Venezuelan National Guard in cooperation with Colombian law-enforcers.

Venezuelan security forces have confiscated a total of more than 45 metric tons of drugs last year, including 27 metric tons of cocaine, up 3 metric tons since 2011 and about twice the amount seized in 1999.

President Hugo Chavez suspended cooperation with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 2005. The US government regularly accuses Venezuelan authorities of not cooperating in the fight against drug trafficking.