Crime in Venezuela

Venezuela is among the most violent places on Earth. In Venezuela, a person is murdered every 21 minutes.^[1] Crimes have been so prevalent in Venezuela that the government no longer produces crime data.^[2] Class tension has long been a part of life in the South American country, where armed robberies, carjackings and kidnappings are frequent. In 2013, the homicide rate was approximately 79 per 100,000, one of the world’s highest, having quadrupled in the past 15 years with over 200,000 murdered.^[3] The capital Caracas has one of the greatest homicide rates of any large city in the world, with 122 homicides per 100,000 residents.^[4] In 2008, polls indicated that crime was the number one concern of voters.^[5]

Crime rates are higher in 'barrios' or 'ranchos' (slum areas) after dark. Petty crime such as pick-pocketing is prevalent, particularly on public transport in Caracas. The government in 2009 created a security force, the Bolivarian National Police, which has lowered crime rates in the areas in which it is so far deployed, and a new Experimental Security University.^[6]

Drug trade

Venezuela is a significant route for drug trafficking, with Colombian cocaine and other drugs transiting Venezuela towards the United States and Europe. Venezuela ranks fourth in the world for cocaine seizures, behind Colombia, the United States, and Panama.^[7]

Murder rate

In Venezuela, a person is murdered every 21 minutes.^[8] In 2013, the homicide rate was approximately 79 per 100,000, one of the world’s highest, having quadrupled in the past 15 years with over 200,000 murdered.^[9] The country's body count of the previous decade mimics that of the Iraq War and in some instances had more civilian deaths even though the country is at peacetime.^[10] The capital Caracas has one of the greatest homicide rates of any large city in the world, with 122 homicides per 100,000 residents.^[11] On January 6, 2014, former Miss Venezuela 2004 Mónica Spear was murdered along with her ex-husband Thomas Henry Berry while driving one night.^[12] President Nicolás Maduro responded by holding an emergency meeting with state governors and mayors from the 79 most dangerous cities, asking the authorities to put aside political differences to work together on a new comprehensive national security plan.^[13]

Corruption

Corruption in Venezuela is high by world standards, and was so for much of the 20th century. The discovery of oil had worsened political corruption,^[14] and by the late 1970s, Juan Pablo Pérez Alfonso's description of oil as "the Devil's excrement" had become a common expression in Venezuela.^[15] Venezuela has been ranked one of the most corrupt countries on the Corruption Perceptions Index since the survey started in 1995. The 2010 ranking placed Venezuela at number 164, out of 178 ranked countries.^[16]

See also

• Law enforcement in Venezuela

General:

• Crime and violence in Latin America

References

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