U.S. delegation seeks release of American prisoners in Venezuela

A U.S. delegation, led by Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, has arrived in Caracas to negotiate the release of American citizens imprisoned by the Venezuelan government.

The talks, conducted privately, aim to secure the freedom of at least four U.S. prisoners, including Eyvin Hernandez and Jerrel Kenemore, arrested near the Venezuelan border with Colombia in March 2022 on charges of criminal association and conspiracy.

Additionally, two former Green Berets, Luke Denman, and Airan Berry, are being held in Venezuela after their involvement in a failed 2020 plot to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro.

The U.S. State Department has confirmed the visit, emphasizing discussions about the welfare and safety of unjustly detained U.S. citizens.

The nature of potential concessions or agreements from the Venezuelan government in exchange for prisoner releases remains unclear.

Maduro’s administration has expressed its desire for the U.S. to ease economic sanctions, but U.S. officials have stated that Venezuela must demonstrate that next year’s presidential elections will be free and fair for such action to be considered.

In addition to pursuing the release of American prisoners, the U.S. may also seek the extradition of Leonard Glenn Francis, known as “Fat Leonard,” a Malaysian defense contractor accused of involvement in a U.S. Navy bribery scheme.

Venezuelan authorities arrested Francis in September while he was en route to Moscow.

This visit follows Carstens’ previous trip to Caracas in June of the previous year, where he negotiated the release of former U.S. Marine Matthew Heath, who had been imprisoned since September 2020.

Although the mission was unsuccessful, Heath was eventually freed in October as part of an exchange involving two members of Maduro’s family imprisoned in the U.S. on cocaine trafficking charges and seven Venezuelan oil executives.