Piracy in Venezuela

Populist policies initiated by Chávez[4] and continued by his successor, Nicolás Maduro, drove the country into a decline, with poverty, inflation and shortages in Venezuela increasing.

[6][3] The trend has direct echoes of the Somali piracy crisis, where impoverished fishermen likewise turned to hijacking passing vessels after the country's collapse into lawlessness in the 1990s.

The pirates killed fishermen in the area and threatened businesses, preying on individuals who entered the open sea and stealing their boat engines, fish and other goods.

The Venezuelan government, in response to growing international pressure, announced an increase in naval patrols along the most affected regions, although local reports suggest these measures have yet to significantly deter pirate activities.

[9] Additionally, there have been increased instances of piracy linked to organized crime networks, with some attacks being traced back to criminal syndicates operating out of major Venezuelan cities.

In April 2023, a joint operation between Venezuelan and Colombian authorities led to the capture of a notorious pirate leader known for orchestrating numerous high-profile hijackings in the Caribbean.

In June 2023, an attack on a fishing vessel off the coast of Sucre resulted in the deaths of four fishermen, highlighting the continuing dangers faced by those venturing into Venezuelan waters.