- Relatives demand that the Colombian Foreign Ministry carry out the necessary procedures to be able to locate the citizen | Photo: What Was Bucaramanga?
Relatives of Colombian lawyer Edwin Colmenares, 34 years old, reported that he has been detained in Venezuela for several days, after he tried to enter the country to travel from the border between the department of Arauca (Colombia) with the state of Apure (Venezuela) to Cúcuta.
According to Colmenares’ mother, Dolly García, her son was going to visit her and had preferred to take the route through Venezuela, on November 1, to shorten the journey.
“He lives in Arauca and works in Arauca. He came (to Cúcuta) and to avoid the journey from Colombia, which is 14 hours, he came through Venezuela, which is 4 hours. Going in to stamp (the passport), they grabbed him there,” García commented in an interview with the Colombian media. Snail on November 7th.
The citizen’s relatives assured that since he was detained on the border between Arauca and Apure they lost contact with him. Likewise, they demand that the Colombian Foreign Ministry carry out the necessary procedures to find the whereabouts of Colmenares.
Who is Edwin Colmenares?
According to a media publication The Colombian November 6, Colmenares works as a lawyer for the Corporation of Professionals for Comprehensive Community Development (Corprodinco), a non-governmental organization (NGO) that is responsible for providing humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable population on the border of Arauca and Apure.
Sources from the NGO explained to the media that the man has been working with them since 2021 as an administrative lawyer and that he has never brought criminal proceedings.
On the other hand, security agencies consulted by The Colombian They ruled out Colmenares carrying out intelligence tasks.
After learning of the disappearance of the citizen, the councilor of Cúcuta, Leonardo Jácome, spoke out in rejection of what happened and argued that it is common for people from Arauca to move through Venezuela towards Cúcuta due to the “bad state of the La Soberanía road.” in Colombia.
For her part, María Fernanda Caba, Colombian senator from the Democratic Center party, mentioned that she requested the Foreign Ministry and the Attorney General’s Office of Colombia to move forward “urgently” with the efforts that lead to the release of Colmenares.
At least 19 foreign citizens are detained in Venezuelaaccused of belonging to a destabilization plot against the government of Nicolás Maduro.
Among those detained are seven Americans, two spanishoTHEtwo Colombians, a Peruvian, a Lebanese citizen and a Czech.
According to the Venezuelan authorities, these foreigners were captured in various areas of the country and are linked to alleged attempts to hack systems of State institutions and attempt to attack President Nicolás Maduro and other senior State officials.
The Venezuelan government has linked these foreigners to the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the US Drug Administration (DEA) and the National Intelligence Center (CNI) of Spain.
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**Interview with Dolly García, Mother of Detained Colombian Lawyer Edwin Colmenares**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Dolly. Can you tell us about the circumstances leading to your son Edwin’s detention in Venezuela?
**Dolly García:** Thank you for having me. Edwin was trying to cross into Venezuela from Arauca to reach Cúcuta. He thought taking that route would be shorter—only about four hours compared to a 14-hour journey through Colombia. However, as he was stamping his passport at the border, he was detained, and we have lost contact with him since.
**Editor:** What actions have you taken since you lost contact with him?
**Dolly García:** We have contacted the Colombian Foreign Ministry and asked them to intervene and do everything necessary to locate Edwin. It’s very distressing for our family, as we have no idea where he is or what situation he is facing.
**Editor:** You’ve mentioned Edwin’s work in humanitarian aid. Can you share more about his background?
**Dolly García:** Yes, Edwin is an administrative lawyer for an NGO called Corprodinco, which focuses on providing humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities along the border. He has always dedicated himself to helping others and has never been involved in any criminal activities.
**Editor:** Have you received any support from local or national authorities in Colombia regarding this matter?
**Dolly García:** Yes, some officials, including Cúcuta’s councilor and Senator María Fernanda Caba, have spoken out about Edwin’s detention. They have urged the Foreign Ministry and other governmental bodies to act urgently for his release. It’s comforting to know that there are people advocating for him, but we need swift actions to find him.
**Editor:** Are you aware of any broader implications regarding the detainment of foreigners in Venezuela?
**Dolly García:** It does seem to be part of a troubling trend. Reports indicate that several foreign nationals, including from the U.S. and other countries, have been detained under various accusations. I fear this might not just be a personal issue but part of a larger situation affecting many innocent people.
**Editor:** Outside of contacting authorities, how can people support you in this difficult time?
**Dolly García:** Sharing Edwin’s story is vital. We need as many people as possible to be aware and concerned about his situation. Furthermore, if anyone has connections or can help us reach out to organizations that work on human rights in Venezuela, that would be incredibly helpful.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dolly, for sharing your story. We hope for Edwin’s safe return.
**Dolly García:** Thank you for the opportunity to speak about my son and for your support during this trying time.
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