Former condom industry leader Eric Arthur has shared his experiences after returning from Venezuela, where he claims he was held against his will.
At 62, after selling his condom production company, Eric Arthur purchased a 48-foot yacht named Tambo and set sail across the Atlantic in December. He celebrated New Year’s in Barbados before making his way to Venezuela, but his journey took an unexpected turn.
On January 6, around 11:30 pm, Arthur’s yacht encountered rocks, forcing him to abandon ship and use his life raft, carrying essentials like fresh water, a laptop, and a radio.
He sent out SOS signals hourly, and after three days, a group of fishermen picked them up.
Unfortunately, instead of receiving help, Arthur’s ordeal was just beginning. The fishermen brought him to a Venezuelan military base on a remote island, where he claims officials demanded he read a statement on camera, praising Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for rescuing him.
Arthur refused to participate in what he called “propaganda,” which reportedly did not sit well with the authorities. This led to a 10-hour boat journey to another island, where he was placed under ‘house arrest’ at a military commander’s residence.
Despite being told he would be released, Arthur says he was transferred to a Caracas prison, stripped of his possessions, and allegedly forced to sit for 14 hours a day without much movement or conversation.
He was kept awake by constant radio and lights.
He shared this experience with other Americans detained there.
Under an executive order to deport illegal immigrants, former President Trump had Venezuelans without U.S. residency rounded up by federal officers. A White House representative visited Caracas on January 31 to negotiate a deal with Venezuela for the return of some Americans in exchange.
Venezuela accepted the agreement, resulting in the release of six American men arrested between September and December on charges like espionage and terrorism. Since Arthur had not been charged, he wasn’t part of the deal.
When two other inmates declined to leave, Arthur was able to take one of their spots, allowing him to return to the U.S. He now questions if he’ll ever want to travel abroad again.