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American’s Wife Released from Venezuelan Prison After More Than a Year
The wife of a Peruvian-American man has been freed from a Venezuelan prison after being detained for over a year on espionage charges, marking a significant development in the ongoing saga of foreign nationals held in the South American nation.
Rosa Carolina Chirino Zambrano, a Venezuelan citizen, was released this week along with a friend and a taxi driver who were detained with her in December 2024. Her husband, Renzo Humanchumo Castillo, spoke with his wife for the first time since their detention near the Colombia-Venezuela border.
“It was surreal,” Castillo told reporters about their conversation. “She got teary, you know, but she was like… ‘hey baby, I’m out.’ Now my main concern is how do I get her here with me.”
Castillo, who lives in Southern California, was freed in July 2025 as part of a prisoner swap with Venezuela, but his wife remained in custody until this week. The couple’s ordeal began during what was meant to be a routine trip to meet Castillo’s in-laws.
After crossing into Venezuela, Castillo was accused of being a CIA operative sent to assassinate then-President Nicolas Maduro and Diosdado Cabello, a powerful figure in Venezuela’s security apparatus. “They got me as a professional hitman sent by the CIA, and [that] I was there to overthrow the government and kill Maduro and Diosdado,” Castillo explained.
Cabello, known as the “octopus” for his far-reaching control over the country’s security forces, is wanted by the United States on narco-terrorism charges. The State Department has offered a $25 million reward for his arrest and conviction.
According to Castillo, Venezuelan authorities became suspicious after finding images on his phone showing him wearing protective gear, which he says was related to his work in private security and executive protection.
During his detention in Venezuela’s notorious El Rodeo prison, Castillo says he endured severe torture, including being hung “like a piñata” and beaten for hours. “They had me hanging. And like my feet were still kind of touching the floor,” he recounted. “They just hit me for maybe at least five to eight hours, just hanging… just not even questions anymore.”
The release of Zambrano comes amid significant political changes in Venezuela following the capture of Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces earlier this month. On Tuesday, Venezuela’s interim government released at least four Americans who had been imprisoned during Maduro’s regime.
“We welcome the release of detained Americans in Venezuela,” a State Department official said. “This is an important step in the right direction by the interim authorities.”
While Zambrano has been freed, Castillo noted she remains under surveillance by Venezuelan authorities. He is now working to secure her passage to California and plans to reach out to the State Department for assistance.
Castillo’s optimism about reuniting with his wife increased dramatically following Maduro’s capture. “It was that moment when, inside of me, I felt I was going to be able to see my wife again,” he said. “The chances of me seeing my wife again just went from like, from nothing to like a hundred. It really lifted my spirit.”
The case highlights the broader issue of political detentions in Venezuela, which has drawn international criticism. “It took Americans and it took foreigners to be kidnapped for the world to put eyes on Venezuela,” Castillo observed.
In a related development, Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez announced Wednesday that she had a “long and courteous” phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a “bilateral work agenda” and “pending matters between our governments.” Trump later stated they discussed oil, minerals, trade, and national security issues.
Castillo expressed gratitude to the Trump administration for its approach to Venezuela. “I feel like the current administration is doing the hard work that it hasn’t been done,” he said. “I’m very thankful to the administration. I’m very thankful to my president.”
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8 Comments
This news is a relief, but the fact that she was held for over a year on dubious espionage charges is troubling. Hopefully her release signals a willingness by Venezuelan authorities to be more cooperative on these sensitive matters.
Reuniting families divided by politically-motivated detentions is important progress, though the underlying issues driving such cases in Venezuela remain unresolved. Ongoing diplomacy will be key to securing more positive outcomes.
Well said. Constructive engagement and a focus on human rights is needed to address the root causes and prevent similar situations in the future.
Glad to hear Rosa Carolina Chirino Zambrano has finally been released after over a year in a Venezuelan prison. It’s a positive sign that more progress can be made on the detention of foreign nationals in the country.
Agreed, this case highlights the importance of diplomatic efforts to secure the release of unjustly detained individuals. Hopefully it leads to further positive outcomes.
While the release of this American’s wife is welcome, it’s concerning that she was held for over a year on dubious charges. Venezuela must improve its treatment of foreign nationals and adhere to international norms of due process.
The release of this American’s wife is an encouraging development, though the broader situation of foreign detainees in Venezuela remains concerning. More transparency and adherence to due process would help build trust.
You raise a fair point. Resolving these cases requires both individual negotiations and broader reforms to Venezuela’s judicial system and treatment of prisoners.