Coro Penitentiary inmate dies amid extreme overcrowding in Venezuela

The death of inmate Edwar Arturo Muñoz has highlighted a severe crisis within the Venezuelan prison system. Muñoz passed away due to unspecified health complications while held at the Coro Penitentiary in Falcón state.

The Venezuelan Prison Observatory (OVP) reported that the facility is operating at more than 212% of its intended capacity. While designed to hold 800 people, the center currently houses over 1,700 inmates, resulting in an overcrowding rate exceeding 112%.

In addition to extreme overcrowding, the OVP noted critical deficiencies in basic services, including inadequate food, limited access to potable water, and insufficient medical care. The organization has called upon the Ombudsman's Office (Defensoría del Pueblo) to fulfill its constitutional duty to protect the rights and lives of those deprived of liberty.