Venezuela food company Polar says owner barred from flying to Ecuador

Venezuelan food company Polar, the South American nation's largest private firm, on Thursday said its owner had been barred from flying to Ecuador on a company plane for a business conference and denounced "harassment" by the state. Lorenzo Mendoza was held for four hours at the regional airport of Barquisimeto and ultimately had to return to Caracas on a commercial flight, Polar said on Twitter. "Polar denounces harassment of its president," the company said, adding the detention was illegal. A Polar source said no official reason had been given for prohibiting Mendoza from boarding the company plane. More…