The Daily Journal.- Relatives of people detained in connection with an alleged smuggling case linked to Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) called on Monday for alternative measures to imprisonment for those facing prosecution. They denounced that dozens of people have remained in custody since 2024.
The case, known as PDVSA-Obrero, involves detainees who, according to their relatives, did not work for the state-owned oil company, as well as lower-ranking company employees, police officers and military personnel.
During a press conference, attorney Zimarú Fuentes, a relative of one of the defendants, said authorities have released around 76 people linked to the case, but 54 people remain detained in Anzoátegui, 10 in Carabobo, nine in Falcón and one in the Capital District, in addition to three others who received sentences on October 1 in La Guaira, according to EFE.
Fuentes called for authorities to extend the precautionary measures granted to an initial group of defendants to the remaining detainees so they can continue their legal proceedings while free.
“They should be able to face their proceedings and trial while free,” the attorney said.
Relatives denounce irregularities
Fuentes said the proceedings involve several irregularities and argued that the case shows characteristics that, in her view, match the pattern of political prisoner detentions.
The attorney also said that authorities accused Jean Karín López Ruiz, the prosecutor who launched the investigation, of corruption and that his current whereabouts remain unknown.
The relatives also requested urgent medical care for four detainees. Fuentes identified Larry José Moya, who she said suffers from “serious widespread complications”; Renier Macetti, who reportedly suffered two heart attacks; and María Alejandra Rodríguez and Lenis Cruz, who, she said, “need immediate medical attention.”
According to previous statements by Fuentes, arrests connected to the case began in October 2024 at the Puerto La Cruz Refinery in Anzoátegui state. At the time, the attorney said the defendants had links to alleged operations involving fuel smuggling to other countries.
Tomás Guanipa calls for U.S. intervention
Opposition lawmaker Tomás Guanipa, who attended the press conference, called on the U.S. government to intervene to help secure the detainees’ release.
“To President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, we want to say (…) there are still many people in prison who should be free. You can help us like no one else can to secure their freedom,” he said.
Guanipa also presented a chart he called a “hampograma,” in which he singled out former Attorney General Tarek William Saab, Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) President Caryslia Rodríguez and Public Defender General Daniel Ramírez.
“They should be in prison today for the harm they have caused this country,” the lawmaker said.
The relatives reiterated their demand that authorities extend the measures granted to some of the defendants to the remaining detainees and allow them to face their legal proceedings while free.
