History
Twentieth century
In the early-20th century, Venezuela was limited to violent crimes occurring in rural areas. In the 1950s, … See more

Venezuela is a significant route for drug trafficking, with Colombian cocaine and other drugs transiting Venezuela towards the United States and Europe. Venezuela ranks fourth in the … See more

There was little history of organized crime in Venezuela until the start of the Bolivarian Revolution. The Bolivarian government was seen as being lenient on crime and justifying the criminals by saying they were poor and exploited. In 2013, the government … See more

Crime rates are higher in 'barrios' or 'ranchos' (slum areas) and after dark. Petty crime such as pick-pocketing is prevalent, particularly in public transport terminals in Caracas. As a result of the high levels of crime, Venezuelans were forced to change … See more

Director James Brabazon stated that "kidnapping crimes had skyrocketed ... after late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez freed thousands of violent prisoners as part of … See more

According to the Trafficking in Persons Report 2014 by the State Department of the United States, "Venezuela is a source, transit, and … See more

Corruption in Venezuela is high by world standards, and has been for much of the 20th century. The discovery of oil worsened political corruption, and by the late 1970s, See more