El Rodeo I prison, located on the outskirts of Caracas, Venezuela, has been described as a place where the government sends its opponents to face harsh conditions and punishments. The maximum-security facility is one of four towers that make up the El Rodeo prison complex. Relatives of inmates and former prisoners have shared their experiences of life inside the prison, revealing a world of terror and despair. Many former inmates, including Whillfer Pina, a 47-year-old math teacher and activist, have spoken out about the prison's brutal conditions.
Whillfer Pina was accused of planning an attack against former President Nicolas Maduro in 2024 and spent time in El Rodeo I before being released in February as part of an amnesty process for political prisoners. Pina remembers arriving at the prison with a hood over his head and being told by the prison director, known as "Shark," that "no one gets out of here alive." He described the prison's cells, which measure just two by three meters, as cramped and unsanitary, with a cement bunk bed, a toilet and shower in the corner, and a tiny barred window.
According to the rights group Foro Penal, at least 20 political prisoners have died in state custody, including one in Rodeo I. The group also reports that more than 344 people are currently imprisoned for political reasons in Venezuela, with dozens of them held in Rodeo I. Former inmates have described the prison's conditions as inhumane, with scarce water access, poor sanitation, and a lack of medical care. Pina recalled running a high fever for 21 days without medical attention and joked that he set a record for killing the most flies in one day - 34.
Others who have been held in El Rodeo I have described the prison's psychological effects on inmates. Freddy Superlano, an opposition politician who was arrested after challenging Maduro's claim to a third electoral victory in 2024, said the prison "is meant to drive you insane." He described the atmosphere as "very eerie" and the prison as "a world of terror." Superlano and Pina were both released in February, but many others remain behind bars.
The fourth floor of El Rodeo I is considered the most feared section of the prison, where inmates are sent as punishment for even the slightest sign of disobedience. Pina described the "time capsule," a small cell where inmates are kept hooded and handcuffed, with limited access to food and water. Human Rights Watch has called for the immediate closure of Rodeo I, citing systematic human rights abuses.
United Nations investigators have reported that authorities tortured 64 political prisoners in El Rodeo I, all of which occurred after Maduro's ouster. Pina described the prison's design as "programmed, built into that prison" to violate human rights. The NGO Human Rights Watch earlier this month called for the immediate closure of Rodeo I during a visit to Venezuela.
The situation at El Rodeo I has sparked international concern, with many human rights organizations calling for the prison's closure. The Venezuelan government has faced criticism for its treatment of political prisoners and its failure to address the humanitarian crisis in the country's prisons. As the situation continues to unfold, many are left wondering when the prison will be shut down and those responsible for the abuses will be held accountable.
Key points
- El Rodeo I prison in Venezuela has been described as a place where the government sends its opponents to face harsh conditions and punishments.
- At least 20 political prisoners have died in state custody, including one in Rodeo I, according to Foro Penal.
- Human Rights Watch has called for the immediate closure of Rodeo I, citing systematic human rights abuses.
