US Dept. of State updates travel warnings for Venezuela -December 15 2016

CSSN News
CSSN NEWS


The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Venezuela due to violent crime, social unrest, and pervasive food and medicine shortages. All U.S. direct-hire personnel and their families assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Caracas are subject to an embassy movement policy that limits their travel within Caracas and other parts of the country. These security measures may restrict the services the Embassy can provide. Country-wide shortages of food, water, medicine, electricity, and other basic goods have led to social unrest, including violence and looting. Security forces have arrested individuals, including U.S. citizens, and detained them for long periods with little or no evidence of a crime. The U.S. Embassy may not be notified of the detention of a U.S. citizen and consular access to detainees may be denied or severely delayed. The detained citizen may be denied access to proper medical care, clean water, and food. This replaces the Travel Warning issued July 15, 2016.

Venezuela has one of the world’s highest crime rates, including one of the highest homicide rates. Violent crime – including murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking – is endemic throughout the country. Armed robberies and street crime take place throughout Caracas and other cities, including in areas frequented by tourists. Heavily armed criminals are known to use grenades and assault rifles to commit crimes at banks, shopping malls, public transportation stations, and universities. Criminals may take advantage of power outages to target victims when lights and security alarms are nonfunctional. Drug traffickers and illegal armed groups are active in the Colombian border states of Zulia, Tachira, and Apure.

The political and security situation in Venezuela is unpredictable and can change quickly. Political rallies and demonstrations occur with little notice, and are expected to occur with greater frequency in the coming months in Caracas and throughout the country. Long lines to purchase basic goods are a common occurrence throughout the country and there have been reports of unrest and violence while customers wait, sometimes resulting in looted stores and blocked streets. These incidents elicit a strong police and security force response that can include the use of violence against participants; several deaths have been reported during such protests. Due to shortages of some food and medical supplies, U.S. citizens should be prepared to cover their own needs while in country. In the event that the security climate worsens, U.S. citizens should be responsible for arranging their own travel out of Venezuela.

U.S. citizens may be detained and/or deported by Venezuelan immigration officials for not complying with visa or immigration regulations. U.S. citizens traveling to Venezuela must have a valid visa that is appropriate for their specific type of travel (tourism, journalism, employment, study, etc.)

Journalists must possess the appropriate accreditation and work visa from the Venezuelan authorities before arriving. International journalists are closely scrutinized and have been expelled and/or detained for lacking appropriate permissions to work in Venezuela or for participation in what could be seen as any anti-government activity, including observing and reporting on public health facilities.

Venezuela Travel Warning, July 7, 2016

 

CSSN News
CSSN NEWS
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United States Department of State

“The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens that violent crime in Venezuela is pervasive, both in the capital Caracas and throughout the country. Security restrictions on U.S. government personnel may restrict the services the Embassy can provide. All U.S. direct-hire personnel and their families assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Caracas are subject to an embassy movement policy which limits their travel abilities within Caracas and in other parts of the country for their safety and well-being. Country-wide shortages of food, water, medicine, electricity, and other basic goods have led to violence and looting. This replaces the Travel Warning issued on September 18, 2015.

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Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Venezuela has one of the world’s highest crime rates and, according to the non-governmental organization Venezuelan Violence Observatory, has the second highest homicide rate. Violent crime – including murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking – is endemic throughout the country. Drug traffickers and illegal armed groups are active in the Colombian border states of Zulia, Tachira, and Apure.

Armed robberies and street crime take place throughout Caracas and other cities, including in areas generally presumed safe and frequented by tourists. Heavily armed criminals are known to use grenades and assault rifles to commit crimes at banks, shopping malls, public transportation stations, and universities.Criminals may take advantage of power outages to target victims when lights and security alarms are nonfunctional.”

CSSN Note: Consular Citizen services may be readily available to nationals of countries  other than the United States from their Embassies and Consuls. However, consider checking your country’s presence prior to risking travel to Venezuela.

Click images below for more information:

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Venezuela Alerts & Warnings
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See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution

DATE: 2015-05-24 23:00 Country Name: Venezuela- Mainland And Nearshore Islands Location Detail: Orinoco Delta Manamo River EVENT: Assault

 

Security Matters - Caribbean Safety and Security Net

CSSN First Hand Report
CSSN First Hand Report

DATE: 2015-05-24 23:00
Country Name: Venezuela- Mainland And Nearshore Islands
Location Detail: Orinoco Delta Manamo River
EVENT: Assault
Stolen Items: silver coins and other items
SECURED: Not Locked
DETAILS: While the Manamo River/Orinoco Basin are not in the strictest sense part of the Caribbean, cruisers from Trinidad/Tobago have often chosen to explore this remote area. CSSN has received a first hand report from a single hander who was boarded, restrained and held at gunpoint while his boat was ransacked on the night of 24 May 2015. Six men boarded from a (stolen) engine-less boat, ransacked the yacht and stole valuable silver coins and other items. The captain did not resist, he was tied up, his head covered with a shirt, but left unharmed. He later reported the incident to the Guardia, who showed little interest and did not follow-up. For additional details see a summary report posted in Noonsite here http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Venezuela/venezulea-manamo-orinoco-assault-robbery

DATE: 2015-03-07 Country Name: Venezuela- Mainland And Nearshore Islands Location Detail: Morrocoy EVENT: Assault

 

Security Matters - Caribbean Safety and Security Net

DATE: 2015-03-07
Country Name: Venezuela- Mainland And Nearshore Islands
Location Detail: Morrocoy
EVENT: Assault
Stolen Items: 3 occupied weekend motorboats were boarded around 10AM Saturday morning by thieves armed with guns , those on-board were sequestered in cabins, the boats were then ransacked and pillaged. The criminals then stole 1 of the 3 boats to depart.
SECURED: N/A
DETAILS: Three families in weekend motor yachts were boarded about 10 AM by men armed with guns near Cayo Sur, which is located between Puerto Cabello and Chichiriviche in Morrocoy National Park. The 3 boats/occupants were taken to a remote location, the vessel occupants locked below in cabins and the boats ransacked/pillaged . At 4 PM when the criminals were done, they took one of the 3 boats and departed.

From Noonsite piracy reports 2015 – http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Venezuela/venezuela-morrocoy-national-park-three-local-motorboats-held-hostage-and-ransacked-march-2015

 

DATE: 2014-10-20 Country Name: Venezuela- Mainland And Nearshore Islands Location Detail: PLC Bahia Redonda Marina EVENT: Burglary

 

Security Matters - Caribbean Safety and Security Net

DATE: 2014-10-20
Country Name: Venezuela Mainland And Nearshore Islands
Location Detail: PLC Bahia Redonda Marina
EVENT: Burglary
Stolen Items: 2 car radios and small amount of cash.
SECURED: Locked
DETAILS: Returning from a six month absence the owners of a boat docked at Bahia Redonda marina discovered it had been burgled, with likely entry via a forward hatch. Two car type stereos and a small amount of cash were taken. Minor damage to the hatch was noted, and the hatch had been covered by the boat’s dinghy. This incident was reported on the local VHF net, and the marina has opened an investigation into this matter. No further details are available at this time.

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