History
Twentieth century
In the early-20th century, Venezuela was limited to violent crimes occurring in rural areas. In the 1950s, the rapid urbanization of the population … 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 … 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. … 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 controversial criminal justice system reforms" while also increasing due to … See more

According to the Trafficking in Persons Report 2014 by the State Department of the United States, "Venezuela is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor". The State Department also … 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