Summary
Venezuelan prisoners used creative methods, like hiding messages in chocolate bar wrappers, to communicate with family while held in a notorious jail. This jail, El Helicoide, built by Venezuela's intelligence services, is known for harsh conditions and has housed political prisoners. Despite releases in recent years, many remain imprisoned under difficult circumstances.
Key Facts
- Venezuelan prisoners used chocolate wrappers to send messages to family members.
- El Helicoide, once planned as a shopping center, is now a jail run by Venezuelan intelligence.
- The jail is known for harsh treatment and has been involved in torture allegations, according to a UN report.
- Hundreds of political prisoners were arrested under President Nicolás Maduro's government.
- More than 600 prisoners were released after a military operation in January, but many remain jailed.
- Human rights activist Javier Tarazona spent over four years in prison in harsh conditions.
- Prison cells, known as "little tigers," are reported to be small, unsanitary, and overcrowded.
- Families of prisoners, like Adriana Briceño, smuggled messages using sweet wrappers to maintain contact.
