politics
March 25, 2026
US traveller recounts brutal detention in Venezuela’s feared prisons: ‘They beat me, chained me up’
James Luckey’s ordeal sheds light on the mistreatment political prisoners faced under Nicolás Maduro
TL;DR
- James Luckey, a US citizen, was detained in Venezuela and subjected to solitary confinement, beatings, and interrogations.
- Luckey claims he was suspected of being a spy and endured harsh conditions, including being denied food and water.
- His account aligns with reports from human rights groups detailing the alleged mistreatment of around 700 political prisoners in Venezuela.
- Former inmates describe being beaten, suffocated, and denied medical treatment, with some suffering long-term physical and psychological scars.
- Luckey's ordeal ended after a month, coinciding with the US's apprehension of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
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