The socialist dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro is unlawfully detaining at least 31 foreign nationals under conditions of forced disappearance, according to a report from Infobae citing the Venezuelan non-governmental group Foro Penal and the CASLA Institute. These individuals are among 72 foreign political prisoners currently held by the regime, with 68 total prisoners reported missing inside the country’s opaque prison system.
Among the missing are several U.S. citizens, including Navy SEAL Wilbert Joseph Castañeda, Air Force veteran Joseph Saint Claire, and American citizen Lucas Hunter. The families of these men have received no confirmed communication or updates since their detainment, with some cases dating back to 2024.
The Maduro regime reportedly moves these individuals across various undisclosed detention centers, often without charges or legal representation. The Venezuelan government continues to reject international calls for transparency, alleging a global conspiracy against the regime.
According to Infobae, heads of state including President Donald Trump, Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, Argentina’s Javier Milei, and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni have formally demanded the release of their nationals. In contrast, Maduro has denied these requests and accelerated secret trials without offering evidence or public disclosure.
President Trump’s administration, in a high-profile maneuver, recently orchestrated Operation Guacamaya to extract five Venezuelan dissidents from the closed Argentine embassy in Caracas, showcasing a hardline stance against Maduro’s detentions. The Trump administration has reportedly warned the regime that further retaliation will follow unless 11 priority political prisoners, including U.S. and Israeli citizens, are released.
The list of foreign detainees also includes Uruguayan national Fabián Buglione Reyes and Italian humanitarian worker Alberto Trentini, the latter of whom was allowed only one phone call six months after his arrest. Infobae reports that Trentini’s detention has been “whitewashed,” with no indication of an impending release.
Colombia, despite ideological alignment between President Gustavo Petro and Maduro, has been unsuccessful in securing the release of its own citizens. Colombia reportedly has the largest number of nationals subjected to forced disappearance by the Maduro regime.
Analysts suggest Maduro views these foreign prisoners as leverage, using them as bargaining chips amid Venezuela’s worsening isolation and economic collapse.
