Venezuela says it will close its border with Colombia at night from Monday, to try to stop large-scale smuggling of petrol and food.
The government says that tonnes of goods – produced in Venezuela and heavily subsidised – are sold in Colombia at much higher prices.
The shortage of many staples in Venezuela’s western border area this year led to anti-government protests.
The border closure was agreed with the Colombian government.
President Nicolas Maduro discussed the measures with his Colombian counterpart, Juan Manuel Santos, at a summit on 1 August.
The 2,200km-long (1,360 miles) border will be closed between 22:00 local time and 05:00 every night.
Cargo vehicles, including vans and lorries, will be banned from crossing from Venezuela to Colombia between 18:00 and 05:00.
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