Thirteen Venezuelan Soldiers Feared disappeared After Transfer from Ramo Verde Prison
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A growing crisis unfolds in Venezuela as the Venezuelan Prisons Observatory reports the disappearance of thirteen soldiers following their transfer from the Ramo verde National Military Processing Centre in Miranda state on November 3, 2025.
The Venezuelan Prisons Observatory (OVP) denounced on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, that the thirteen military personnel, all of whom had completed their sentences and were awaiting release orders, have been missing for over three weeks. The soldiers were reportedly informed they were being moved to court to finalize their freedom when they vanished.
Mounting Concerns of Forced Disappearance
families of the missing soldiers have been left in the dark, receiving no reliable information regarding the well-being or whereabouts of their loved ones. According to the OVP, this lack of transparency points to a disturbing pattern.”They are victims of forced disappearance,” the NGO stated, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Despite repeated appeals to the General Directorate of the Military Penitentiary Service of the FANB, the Military Defender’s Office, the Supreme Court of Justice, and the Ramo Verde detention center itself, relatives have encountered only vague responses or complete silence. The situation is further compounded by the recovery of personal belongings – clothing,shoes,and hygiene items – belonging to the soldiers,fueling fears about their fate.
legal Efforts Stalled
Lawyers representing the families have filed appeals seeking information, but have received no response after more than three weeks. Efforts to locate the missing men at Fort Guaicaipuro have also proven unsuccessful. This lack of progress underscores a systemic obstruction to justice, according to the OVP.
The OVP expressed deep concern over the psychological toll this ordeal is taking on the families, including children who are desperately seeking answers about their parents. “We are concerned about the psychological torture that the nicolás Maduro regime exercises not only on those deprived of liberty, but also on their families, including minors who ask daily about their parents without getting answers,” the organization stated.
List of Missing Soldiers
The OVP has identified the following individuals among those missing:
- Lieutenant Colonel Víctor Eduardo Soto Méndez
- Lieutenant Colonel Peña
- Lieutenant Colonel José Pérez Lugo
- Lieutenant Colonel pedro Luis Garrido Guillén
- Lieutenant Colonel Juan Carlos Peña Palmentieri
- Lieutenant Colonel Deibis Esteban Mota Marrero
- Captain Nicholas
- Captain Aguilar
- Captain Marrero
- Captain Paredes William
- Lieutenant Suárez Requena
- Sergeant Bracho
- One soldier, whose name is being withheld to protect family safety.
https://twitter.com/oveprisiones/status/1727799999999999999
Broader Pattern of Disappearances
The OVP notes that this case is not isolated. The organization reports that the location of 20 other prisoners held at El Helicoide remains unknown, based on reports from the Committee of Political Prisoners. This highlights a broader pattern of enforced disappearances within the Venezuelan penal system.
The Venezuelan Prisons Observatory has pledged to meticulously document thes cases and present them to international bodies, demanding accountability from the Maduro regime and advocating for the release of those unlawfully detained. The organization is urging authorities to provide families with information and ensure the soldiers’ freedom, in accordance with the law.
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