In a stark revelation, it has been disclosed that inmates within a harsh Venezuelan penitentiary face harrowing conditions, including being subjected to violence, abuse, and degrading treatment. The facility, known as El Helicoide prison and situated in the capital city of Caracas, was initially designed as a spiral-shaped shopping center in the 1950s but has since transformed into what has been described as a sprawling torture chamber under the leadership of Nicolás Maduro.
The prison, which was envisioned to be a revolutionary drive-thru shopping destination with 300 stores and a unique ramp system, has now metamorphosed into a place dubbed as “hell on Earth.” Inside, prisoners are said to endure various forms of torture, including the notorious “Russian” or “white torture,” which involves confinement in a small, windowless cell painted entirely in white with relentless bright lighting, leading to severe psychological distress like time disorientation and hallucinations.
Reports have surfaced detailing the appalling conditions within El Helicoide, with accounts of prisoners waking up to find their fellow inmates bloodied and unconscious on the floor. Former inmate and Venezuelan opposition figure Rosmit Mantilla has exposed shocking incidents of electrocutions and rapes with rifles occurring within the prison walls.
Describing the cramped and inhospitable environment, Rosmit recounted how inmates were confined to a cell known as “el infiernito” or “little hell,” lacking ventilation and with perpetual bright lighting. He further revealed the dire situation where prisoners were forced to urinate in the same space as their food due to severe overcrowding, leaving them with no space even to lie down comfortably.
Although the prison remained largely underutilized for years, it saw an influx of government agencies, including the national intelligence service SEBIN, in the 1980s. Recent military actions in Venezuela, involving strikes led by US President Donald Trump targeting the capture of Maduro, have brought a glimmer of hope to the families of inmates. Following these events, it was announced that some prisoners would be released, with conflicting reports stating different numbers of individuals set free.
While the Venezuelan government claims that 116 individuals have been released, human rights organization Penal Forum disputes this figure, asserting that only 56 prisoners have been granted freedom. The unfolding situation offers a glimpse of potential relief for those who have suffered under the oppressive conditions of El Helicoide prison.