CNN has reported the detention of a member of the US military in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. The US State Department is strongly discouraging travel to the country due to multiple concerns.
The US Department of State issued an alert, stating, “Do not travel to Venezuela due to crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws. Reconsider travel due to wrongful detentions, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure.”
The advisory highlights the prevalence of violent crimes such as murders, armed thefts, abductions, and car hijackings. It also mentions the common occurrence of political demonstrations, which can rapidly turn violent or destructive, often leading to harsh responses from police and security forces, including the use of tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets.
The government advisory further indicates, “Security forces have detained U.S. citizens for up to five years,” and points out that the US government is rarely informed about the detention of its citizens or allowed to visit them.
Over the recent weekend, the US took control of a plane belonging to Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
As per sources cited by CNN, the detained individual is a citizen of the US and was captured on August 30 in Caracas. Detained by the Venezuelan intelligence agency SEBIN, the conditions around his travel to Venezuela remain unclear, especially since it wasn’t an officially sanctioned trip or leave. The State Department highlights the considerable risk of US nationals being wrongfully detained in Venezuela.
Additionally, there are reports of Venezuelan gangs demanding rent from residents in US apartment buildings under the threat of violence.
