Camilo Castro, a French national, was crossing the border between Venezuela and Colombia when he was detained and forcibly disappeared by Venezuelan officials. Photo: Libération.
Guacamaya, November 16, 2025. The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, announced on Sunday the release of Camilo Castro, a French citizen detained in Venezuela since June.
“Camilo Castro has been released. I share the relief of his loved ones and thank all those who worked for his release,” the head of state indicated on his social media accounts.
The 41-year-old yoga teacher was detained at the Paraguachón border crossing, between Venezuela and Colombia, on June 26, 2025, while attempting to renew his expired Colombian residence visa.
He is considered a victim of a forced disappearance because, according to Amnesty International, he was detained by Venezuelan security officials, but they refused to disclose his whereabouts and even denied his detention. No charges or any judicial process against him are known.
In the same message, Macron added that “France sometimes moves forward quietly, but always with determination and serenity: this is how we protect our citizens.”
According to Foro Penal, there were 85 foreign political prisoners in Venezuela as of November 10, 2025, including 10 Colombians, 4 Spaniards and 2 Argentinians, not counting those with dual nationality.
On October 2, 2025, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted precautionary measures in favor of Castro, considering that “he is in a situation of seriousness and urgency, given that his rights to life and personal integrity are at risk of irreparable harm in Venezuela,” recommending that the necessary measures be taken to protect his rights.
It was only after this ruling and efforts by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs that he was allowed consular assistance, according to sources consulted by Guacamaya.
The officials in charge of the case also argued that they could not activate legal appeals because Castro’s relatives were outside of Venezuela, requiring their physical presence to submit any request.
