[4] Chacón was arrested by the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Servicio Bolivariano de Inteligencia Nacional, SEBIN) in the early hours of the morning of 1 February 2018, without warrants and under false pretenses.

Her academic work included the study of 19th century etiquette and citizenship manuals for young people, written by Colombian author Pío del Castillo.

[3] Chacón worked as a volunteer with the Latin American nonprofit organization Un Techo para mi País whose goal is to provide safe housing.

[13][14] It has been reported to have reached over as many as 1000 individuals in 3 cities, 11 communities and 13 educational institutions in Venezuela,[4] including Filas de Mariche (Miranda state), Petare, Chacao, Catia, San Agustín del Sur, La Vega [es] and Antímano (Caracas).

[15] On 31 January 2018 at noon, SEBIN officials searched the offices of the Community Ambassadors Foundation, without a court order or witnesses to the proceedings.

[15][5] At a hearing held on 5 February 2018 Geraldine Chacón was charged with public gathering and instigation, as was Gregory Hinds, another director of the Community Ambassadors Foundation.

The court supported their release on bail during the initial investigation, on the condition that two people be appointed to act as guarantors of their reappearance, with appropriate documentation.

[18] On 16 May 2018, detainees in El Helicoide staged a peaceful protest, barricading themselves in a section of the cells and requesting independent mediation by the Catholic Church and other organizations.

[19] Geraldine Chacón was held in a cell with 25 women, with little or no access to drinking water, clean clothes, sanitary facilities, medicines or other medical services.

It was left to her mother, Natividad Villarroel, to attempt to supply her with 15 liters of water a week, medicines and personal hygiene items.