American reported the nightmare of his arrest in Venezuela

David Estrella, a 64 -year -old American citizen, He was detained without formal charges in Venezuela After trying to enter as a tourist from Colombia. In his story to the CNN news chain, He presented abuses, isolation and detention without judicial process.

He has barely left his home in New Jersey since his release at the end of January. After spending almost five months in high security prison Rodeo I, in Venezuela, he says he feels safer between four walls.

The American was arrested on September 9, 2024 at the border between Cúcuta and Venezuela when he said, he was going to visit some friends. He said they arrested him without evidence with other foreigners, accused of participating in an alleged plot to kill Nicolás Maduro.

“I said: ‘I have nothing to hide,” he recalled.

Although he tried to enter the country with Ecuadorian passport – he has double citizenship -, The authorities also asked for the US passport. They took the phone, they questioned him briefly and then uploaded him to a police vehicle.

Thought they were going to kill him

Estrella said he was handcuffed, he covered his head and transferred him by plane to Caracas. He thought they were going to kill him.

Once at the headquarters of the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence, what described as a nightmare began. He spent more than two days sitting in a chair without food, without being able to go to the bathroom or talk to anyone. Then he was transferred to Rodeo I, where he shared a cell with other prisoners.

“We never had information from outside or let us talk to anyone, nor know why we were there, although we asked, ”said Estrella, who never appeared before a judge or formally accused.

An American accused in Venezuela of “spy” for the United States

According to the NGO Criminal Forum, in March 2025 at least five Americans remain detained in Venezuela under accusations without evidence of “Spies” or “Mercenaries.”

Within the prison, Estrella said that he was pointed out as “spy” and told the extreme of the conditions in which he was: Tiny cells, without bathroom, without access to the outside and with devastating effects on physical and mental health.

“Comes the point where you lose yourself and start questioning, And you become crazy there ”, said.

His breakdown was the wedding date of one of his children: “I couldn’t go and he was waiting for me.”

On January 31, without prior notice, star and five other detainees were released.

“We never knew we were going out,” he said.

That same day, the special envoy Richard Grenell traveled to Caracas and met with Nicolás Maduro. After the meeting, The release of six Americans was agreed and the acceptance of Venezuelans deported by the United States.

“This was the time we could vent,” said Estrella by showing a photo taken on the plane after his release.

Today, he tries to recover physically and emotionally after the damage he suffered in prison.

From Washington, a state department spokesman declared CNN: “It is unacceptable that the regime has arrested and imprisoned Americans in questionable circumstances and without respecting their rights. All Americans unfairly detained by the Maduro regime must be released immediately. ”

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