Venezuelan Citizen's Video Exposes Alleged Police Extortion and Prison Gangs

A wave of concern has swept through Maracay, Venezuela, following a disturbing video uploaded by Gabriel Jesus Sarmiento Rodriguez. In the video, Rodriguez, visibly distressed, accuses officers of the Bolivarian National Police (PNB) of extortion and abuse. He claims he was detained and subsequently imprisoned in the notorious La Morita penitentiary, where he encountered members of the notorious criminal gangs, Tren de Aragua and Tren del Llano. "They took me to La Morita, where the gangs operate," Rodriguez states in the video. His account details alleged threats and attempts to extort money from him. The video has sparked outrage and calls for investigations into Rodriguez's claims and the alleged collusion between police and criminal elements within the prison. Authorities have yet to respond to the allegations. The case highlights ongoing concerns about corruption and the power of criminal gangs within Venezuela's prison system.