James Luckey-Lange, a 28-year-old American, spent over a month detained in Venezuela before being released on January 13 following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by United States forces. He has since recounted his experience, detailing harsh treatment while in custody.
American Detained in Venezuela
Luckey-Lange reported being beaten and deprived of food during his detention at a counterintelligence facility. He is now back at his aunt’s home in New Jersey, where he is attempting to locate the families of his former prison mates.
To aid in his search, Luckey-Lange is using a bar of soap he smuggled out of prison—on which he carved the names of those he was held with—and searching for them on Facebook. He stated, “I hope they don’t think I’m up there getting tortured right now. I hope they grasp I got out.” He acknowledged the difficulty of his search, noting, “I’ve never seen a lot of these people’s faces. It’s hard to find their families if you don’t know what they look like.”
Imprisoned
Luckey-Lange was initially held in solitary confinement and later transferred to El Rodeo, where he was allowed to leave only once during his weeks-long stay. He was accused of being a spy, with authorities citing his boots as being of a military style and drawing maps in his notebook to implicate him.
He described a cycle of escape attempts and retribution, stating, “Every time I managed to get loose from the waist restraints…they would come in, beat me, and throw me back inside.” He recalled being left without food or water for days and being subjected to beatings.
According to Luckey-Lange, Venezuelan authorities were motivated to find a spy, regardless of the truth. He stated, “They didn’t believe anything I said because they really wanted to catch a spy. Everyone wanted to go home and notify their wives, their superiors, that they had caught a spy.” His fellow prisoners, he said, were from across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long was James Luckey-Lange detained?
James Luckey-Lange was detained for more than a month.
Where was James Luckey-Lange held?
James Luckey-Lange was initially held at a counterintelligence facility and later transferred to El Rodeo.
What were the accusations against James Luckey-Lange?
James Luckey-Lange was accused of being a spy by Venezuelan authorities.
Given the challenges Luckey-Lange faced in identifying and contacting his former fellow prisoners, what role might international organizations play in assisting those left behind in Venezuelan detention facilities?
