Venezuela is not
a place you’d go to for your first overseas holiday. It’s not a place you go to
for beach time and pina coladas. It’s a place you go for an adventure.
Violent crime is rife in
both the capital Caracas and the interior, and as a foreigner you are a prime
target. Don’t go expecting justice
if you are a victim of crime - only a very small percentage of crimes result in
trials and convictions.
What Could Happen?
The country has
one of the top five highest per capita murder rates in the world.
Kidnappings have
increased approximately 50 per cent from 2008 to 2009, and armed robberies are
common.
Kidnappings of foreign
nationals occurs from homes, hotels, unauthorized taxis and the airport
terminal.
Express Kidnap
In recent years a
frightening phenomenon called ‘express kidnapping’ has emerged. These kidnappings are short-term opportunistic
abductions, aimed at extracting cash from the victim.
Victims are normally
selected at random and held while criminals force them to use their cash cards
to empty their bank accounts. Once the maximum amount of money is extracted the
victim is released. It lasts an hour, but it comes with the threat of or actual
violence, and is terrifying, as well as really inconvenient to be cleaned out.
(From "Secuestro Express" a Venezuelan movie. Real villains are never as handsome.)
Be aware also of
‘virtual kidnappings’. Locals never complete questionnaires or surveys because
these are scams to collect contact information on family members.
People who have handed
over these details have been subjected to threatening calls demanding ransom
for abducted children…. Even though there’s been no actual kidnapping… what’s
terrifying is you don’t know if it’s real, and who wouldn’t hand over bank
details if they thought their loved ones were in danger?
Also ‘inside
kidnappings’ are on the rise, in which domestic employees are paid for keys and
information so criminals can enter foreigners’ accommodation and kidnap
children for ransom.
Road Bandits
But it’s not just in
your hotel or home that you must take precautions - obviously on the road you
are even more exposed.
Carjacking is also a
problem by day and night.
Carjackers tend to
target expensive-looking vehicles, especially 4x4s. Armed gangs ram their
intended victim’s vehicle from behind, or attempt to flag them down in order to
rob them.
Resistance to robbery
has resulted in victims being shot dead.
Be aware well-armed
criminal gangs operate widely, often setting up fake police checkpoints.
Travellers should be
aware of chokepoints inside tunnels and avoid obstacles in the road.
Taxi drivers in Caracas
are known to overcharge, rob or injure passengers.
When sightseeing or on
foot you should wear as little jewellery as possible, including expensive
looking watches. Also avoid displaying expensive camera equipment.
Cash & Money Exchange
Due to currency
regulations, hotels cannot provide currency exchange, so invariably you will
have to use ATMs. Malfunctions are common and it is not unknown for ATM data to
be hacked and used to make unauthorized withdrawals from user’s accounts. (Reports
suggest hand-held scanners are also used by thieves to steal account details)
Also travellers should
be careful only to use ATMs in well-lit public places as to avoid being
targeted by street gangs.
Other Hot Spots
Even popular tourist
attractions, such as the Avila National Park, are increasingly associated with
violent crime.
The poor neighborhoods,
barrios (read slums) that cover the hills around Caracas are extremely
dangerous. These are seldom patrolled by police and should be avoided.
In these areas – and
other parts of the city - gangs of thieves will often surround their victims
and use a chokehold to disable them, even in crowded market areas where there
is little or no police presence.
Pickpockets are also a
problem – they concentrate in and around crowded bus and subway stations in
downtown Caracas.
Subway escalators are
favored sites for ‘bump and rob’ petty thefts by roving bands of young
criminals. A person in front of you will ‘drop’ something, then bend down to
retrieve it, which then blocks the traffic on the escalator. The person behind
you pushes against you in the chaos of bodies – and in so doing picks your
pockets. Many of these criminals are well dressed to allay suspicion and to
blend in with crowds using the subways during rush hour. Robberies also occur
frequently on buses and trains.
Poison Letters & Drinks
Finally, when out and
about in the street or in major shopping centres, do not accept pamphlets.
There have been
incidents where these flyers have been impregnated with potent and disorienting
drugs that permeate the skin.
Drink spiking has also
been reported – so be careful to not accept food or drink from strangers who
may befriend you in bars or restaurants.
Hotels Safety
As for accommodation - Sabana
Grande is not a safe area in which to stay in Caracas; cheap hotels can be
found in safer areas such as Chacao, La Castellana and Altamira
Theft from hotel rooms
and safe deposit boxes is a problem, and theft of unattended valuables on the
beach and from rental cars parked near isolated areas or on city streets is
commonplace. A guarded garage or locked trunk is not a guarantee against theft.
Airport Safety
And believe it or not
you will actually need to be on your guard the second you arrive in Venezuela.
Even the airports and their surrounds are considered dangerous.
Corruption at Maiquetía
Airport, the international airport serving Caracas, is rampant. Both arriving
and departing travellers, including foreigners, have been victims of personal
property theft and muggings.
Some of these crimes are
committed by people wearing official looking uniforms - so be wary of any
strangers who approach you.
Casually dressed
travellers are more often approached, so dress smartly.
There are known drug
trafficking groups working from the airport. Travellers should not accept
packages from anyone and should keep their luggage with them at all times. It
is also wise to lock your luggage.
There are reports that
uniformed airport officials are attempting to extort money from travellers as
they go through the normal check-in and boarding process for departing flights.
Others are approached as
they arrive and are escorted to a separate area for a bag inspection.
Victims are then instructed to sign a document in Spanish that they do
not understand. If you are forced to sign a document you don’t
understand, just write in English ‘I do not understand this document’.
Also be aware of being
approached at the airport by individuals offering to exchange foreign currency.
You may be given forged local currency.
The road between
Maiquetía Airport and Caracas is known to be particularly dangerous.
Visitors traveling this
route at night have been kidnapped and held captive for ransom in roadside huts
that line the highway. Because of the frequency of robberies at gunpoint,
travellers are encouraged to arrive and depart only during daylight hours.
You should make advance
arrangements for travel from the airport to your accommodation.
Airport Tax Scam
Also be aware of being
overcharged when paying airport tax for both international flights and domestic
flights within Venezuela.
Always check the amount
printed on the receipt issued for the tax (normally a sticker affixed to the
back of your ticket) before handing over any money. Currently the domestic
airport tax, including journeys from Caracas to Margarita Island, is BsF 38.
International passengers
must pay two taxes to exit the country. The international departure tax
increased in February 2011 to BsF 228 (from BsF 195) but it is usually,
although not always, included in the cost of the airfare ticket. (If you
purchased your flight tickets before February, you may be asked to pay the
difference by the airline when you check in, which should be BsF 33.)
There is also an airport
tax of BsF 190 that must be paid in cash (Bolivars) after check in at the
airport (at one of the tax payment booths). Check with your airline before
agreeing to pay anything extra.
What To Do
In case of theft it is
wise to make two photocopies of your passport, tickets, visas and travellers'
cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave
another copy with someone at home.
Clearly traveling in
Venezuela is not for the feint hearted. So consider if your travel is essential,
be prepared for a challenge and exercise extreme caution.
Related Articles
Weather and natural hazards in Venezuela
Travel in Venezuela
Local laws & customs
Venezuela water and disease guide
Crime in Venezuela
Turbulent, troubled Venezuela
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