French National Camilo Castro Released After Four Months Detention in Venezuela

Camilo Castro, a 41-year-old French yoga instructor, has been released following his detention in Venezuela since June 26, 2025. President Emmanuel Macron announced Castro's liberation on November 16, expressing relief for his family and gratitude for those involved in securing his freedom. According to Macron, the French government worked quietly yet determinedly to protect its citizen abroad, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirming Castro was safe and on a flight back to France.

Castro was detained without trial while attempting to renew his Colombian visa at the Paraguachon border. Venezuelan immigration authorities arrested him and accused him of terrorism, holding him at Rodeo 1 prison, a facility for foreign detainees. His family reported his disappearance after he went missing on June 26 and last contacted them with a distress message in late July. Amnesty International criticized these enforced disappearances by the Venezuelan government, highlighting a troubling pattern of detaining foreigners and political opponents under accusations of conspiracy and terrorism, which are often used as political leverage amid ongoing tensions.

Camilo Castro is reportedly the fourth French citizen detained in Venezuela in recent months, raising concerns about the treatment and whereabouts of international detainees in the country. The French government’s diplomatic efforts to secure his release occurred amid a broader context of strained Venezuela-France relations following Nicolás Maduro's contentious re-election in 2024.

Macron’s announcement of Castro’s freedom was made via social media on a Sunday morning, alongside thanks to French diplomatic partners. Barrot emphasized the success of diplomacy in ensuring Castro's safe return and underscored the commitment to protecting French nationals anywhere in the world. Castro's release is a significant relief for his family and a noteworthy diplomatic victory for France amid the complex geopolitical situation in Venezuela.