Zulia prison inmate dies amid reports of overcrowding and tuberculosis

An inmate identified as Santiago Elvis died at the Hospital Universitario de Maracaibo after being transferred from the Centro de Formación Hombre Nuevo Dr. Francisco Delgado, also known as the former El Marite prison in Zulia state.

The Venezuelan Prison Observatory (OVP) reported that the deceased suffered from severe respiratory failure and a suspected case of tuberculosis (TBC). The organization highlighted that the death occurs amid critical overcrowding at the facility; while designed for 650 people, the prison reportedly holds over 1,000 inmates, exceeding its capacity by more than 150%.

The OVP has called for an investigation into the exact causes of death and whether the inmate received timely medical attention prior to his hospital transfer. Additionally, the NGO requested a comprehensive medical evaluation of the prison population to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.