Jesús Daniel Romero and William Acosta for Poder & Dinero and FinGurú
This analysis aims to unravel the nature of SEBIN, its operation, and its impact on contemporary Venezuelan society.
After the elections in which Edmundo González Urrutia was elected, SEBIN (Bolivarian National Intelligence Service) has significantly intensified the persecution and violations of human rights in the country. This escalation has manifested through increased surveillance and harassment of political opponents, activists, and citizens critical of the government.
During the electoral period, intimidation tactics were observed to discourage participation and silence dissenting voices. Following the results, SEBIN has continued with raids, arbitrary detentions, and the disproportionate use of force, creating a climate of fear and repression. Human rights violations, such as torture and inhumane conditions in detention centers, have become more common, reflecting a systematic pattern to control the opposition and maintain power.
One of the most emblematic cases of this repression was the death of Captain Rafael Acosta Arévalo. On June 29, 2019, Acosta Arévalo was detained by SEBIN and, after several days of captivity, died in a military hospital in Caracas. His death, which was attributed to an alleged "suicide" by the authorities, was, according to reports from family members and human rights organizations, actually the result of torture and mistreatment during his detention. This case generated strong condemnation both nationally and internationally, highlighting the brutality of SEBIN in its interrogation and repression methods.
This situation has generated condemnation both nationally and internationally, evidencing the urgency of addressing these violations and restoring respect for human rights in the country.
To understand SEBIN's influence on the Venezuelan political dynamic, it is essential to analyze two key aspects: Structure and Functioning, a detailed examination of SEBIN’s internal organization, hierarchy, and its role in political repression; International, an analysis of its links with foreign intelligence agencies, focusing on Cuba, Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea, as well as its operations in the United States and other countries.
Additionally, SEBIN's connections with armed groups and criminal organizations must be considered, which have expanded its network of influence and control in the country, including:
National Liberation Army (ELN): SEBIN has maintained links with the ELN, a Colombian guerrilla group, facilitating its operation and strengthening its presence in strategic areas of Venezuela. This relationship has translated into exchanges of information and resources.
FARC Dissidents: The factions that separated from FARC after the peace agreement have found refuge and logistical support in Venezuela. It is estimated that SEBIN has collaborated with these dissidents, allowing them to operate in Venezuelan territory and facilitating the mobility of their leaders.
New Marquetalia: This group, also originated from FARC, has established ties with SEBIN, allowing them to operate with fewer restrictions in certain regions of the country. These connections have raised concerns about the impact on regional security and the fight against drug trafficking.
Hezbollah: SEBIN has been reported to have links with Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite group involved in drug trafficking and terrorism. This contact has manifested in the exchange of tactics and resources, as well as cooperation in criminal activities.
Drug Trafficking Groups: SEBIN has been accused of collaborating with drug trafficking organizations, facilitating drug trafficking in exchange for financial and logistical support. This relationship has contributed to the proliferation of drug trafficking in Venezuela and has created an environment of impunity for these groups.
Structure of SEBIN
SEBIN was created in June 2009 by Decree No. 6,733, after the dissolution of the Directorate of Intelligence and Prevention Services (DISIP). Its official foundation was formalized in 2010 under President Hugo Chávez. A notable aspect of its functioning is the lack of transparency, evidenced by the absence of an official website and the limited information available through its communication channels.
Since 2013, SEBIN has operated from its headquarters in Caracas, a highly fortified building, and retains the former DISIP headquarters as a detention center.
Internal Organization
SEBIN is organized into four hierarchical levels:
Executive Level: Composed of the General Director and other senior officials who oversee policy formulation and strategic planning.
Administrative Support: Includes various offices managing legal, human resources, and technological aspects, ensuring the efficient functioning of SEBIN.
Intelligence: Responsible for the collection and analysis of critical information for state security.
Operational: Composed of intelligence regions and bases throughout the country, responsible for data collection and the execution of operations.
SEBIN is estimated to have around 2,000 officials, although information regarding its personnel and budget is classified.
Ranks within SEBIN
The personnel of SEBIN is structured according to a hierarchical scale that includes the following ranks:
Senior Commissioner
General Commissioner
Chief Commissioner
First Commissioner
Commissioner
Chief Inspector
First Inspector
Inspector
Detective
Organizational Chart of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN)
Functions and Objectives
The main mission of SEBIN is to identify and neutralize threats to state security. Its functions include: advising the Executive on security policy formulation, preventing and detecting internal and external threats, coordinating efforts with other security bodies to combat organized crime.
Training in Cuba
SEBIN members receive specialized training in Cuba, where they are instructed in intelligence techniques, security operations, and repression tactics. This training is conducted at the Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence School in Havana, a center recognized for its focus on training security agents.
Specialized Units
SEBIN has several specialized units that reinforce its operational capacity:
Counter-Intelligence Unit: Responsible for detecting and neutralizing internal threats.
Special Investigations Unit: Engaged in investigating high-profile criminal activities.
Tactical Operations Unit: Responsible for conducting field operations and arrests.
Information Analysis Unit: Focuses on the collection and analysis of data for strategic decision-making.
Political Repression
SEBIN has faced criticism for its collaboration with other security agencies, such as the General Directorate of Military Counter-Intelligence (DGCIM) and the Bolivarian National Police (PNB). This collaboration has facilitated a systematic repression system against the opposition. Human rights organizations have documented practices of arbitrary detentions, torture, and other violations, especially during the protests between 2014 and 2017, which resulted in the deaths of numerous Venezuelans. Among the most notable cases is that of Captain Rafael Acosta Arévalo, who died on June 29, 2019, after being detained by SEBIN, becoming a victim of torture during his captivity. In fact, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) expressed its concern regarding the death of Acosta Arévalo due to the alleged torture while under the custody of the General Directorate of Military Counter-Intelligence (DGCM) in Venezuela.
International Alliances
SEBIN operates within a geopolitical framework defined by "Chavismo," establishing connections with countries such as Cuba, Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea. These relationships have not only strengthened its intelligence and security capabilities but also implicated interests in the exploitation of natural resources in Venezuela. Collaboration with Cuba is noteworthy, with the Cuban G2 playing an influential role in SEBIN's structure through advice and collaboration in repressive operations. While the relationship with Iran is less visible than that with Cuba, there is a strategic partnership that allows for exchanges in the area of security. Relations with Russia have advanced in the military field, although there is no concrete evidence of cooperation in intelligence. SEBIN has sought to establish links with Chinese intelligence agencies, suggesting a focus on technological and surveillance cooperation. Relations with North Korea are marked by the exchange of repression and social control tactics, with a particular focus on strengthening SEBIN's intelligence capabilities.
International Operations
SEBIN has also been involved in activities beyond Venezuela's borders. In particular, it has conducted operations in the United States and other countries, where cases of espionage and surveillance over political opponents and Venezuelan exiles have been reported. These activities include:
Surveillance of Opponents: Reports indicate that SEBIN has conducted surveillance operations and gathered information on opposition leaders residing abroad, especially in countries like Colombia and the United States. It has been documented that SEBIN officials have attempted to infiltrate exile communities to monitor their activities.
Espionage: There have been reports of SEBIN members being involved in espionage activities, using various techniques to track political opponents abroad.
Arrests Abroad: There have been cases of SEBIN members being arrested in other countries. For example, in 2020, the detention of a former SEBIN official in Spain was reported, who was sought for human rights violations. These arrests highlight the international pressure on SEBIN's actions and its implication in criminal activities.
Activities in Colombia
Colombian authorities have detected that SEBIN members, assigned to the base in San Cristóbal, Táchira State, 57 kilometers from the Colombian border, began to frequently cross the border since 2019. Initially, Colombian authorities thought that these were isolated cases. Among the officials who entered Colombian territory are:
Willian Alexánder Márquez Pérez, deputy chief commissioner of SEBIN San Cristóbal.
Felipe José Bustamante Pérez, also deputy chief commissioner of SEBIN.
Armando Darío Guerra Ramírez.
Eduardo Hernández Hernández.
Gilbert René Vivas Colmenares.
These movements have generated concern in Colombia, given the context of repression and human rights violations associated with SEBIN. The document also reveals that the suspension was carried out for another 200 individuals close to Nicolás Maduro. Their data was cross-referenced with official SEBIN documents indicating hierarchy, identification number, and status of all its active members. Colombian authorities believe that obtaining the cards aimed to evade immigration controls and allow free transit across the border. The report states that the Venezuelan officials are based in Cúcuta, a Colombian city.In the northeast of the country, bordering Venezuela. From there, they carry out espionage and other activities such as the illegal control of the trochas, following opponents and military deserters from the regime, and recruiting collaborators.
Additionally, Gerardo Rojas Castillo is mentioned, who was expelled for conducting espionage activities.
**Members of the SEBIN Arrested Abroad**
Below is a list of some members of the SEBIN who have been arrested in other countries outside of Venezuela:
**Pedro Luis Martin-Olivares**, arrested in 2020 in Miami, Florida. On April 24, 2015, Martin-Olivares was charged in the Southern District of Florida for distributing more than five kilograms of cocaine, knowing that the controlled substance would be illegally imported into the United States, in violation of Title 21, U.S. Code, Section 959(a)(2); possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine on board a registered aircraft in the United States, in violation of Title 21, U.S. Code, Section 959(b)(2); and Title 21, Section 963, conspiracy to import more than five kilograms of cocaine.
**Rodolfo McTurk-Mora**, wanted by justice, former head of Interpol in Venezuela, involved in corruption and drug trafficking.
**Jesús Alfredo Itriago**, accused of conspiring to import cocaine, wanted in several countries. Former SEBIN official in Spain, arrested in 2020 for human rights violations.
**Members of the SEBIN Arrested in Colombia**
In Colombia, there have also been reports of arrests of SEBIN officials, reflecting the extent of their activities outside Venezuelan borders. Some cases include:
**Carlos Enrique Sosa**, arrested in 2021 in Bogotá, accused of espionage and harassment of political opponents in Colombia.
**Máximo José Pérez**, detained in 2022 for his involvement in intimidation and surveillance activities against Venezuelan exiles.
**Luis Alberto Gómez**, arrested in 2023, linked to operations to gather information on opposition leaders in the country.
**Cases of Deaths and Disappearances**
As of 2024, several deaths and disappearances related to the SEBIN have been reported:
**Fernando Alban**, activist and councillor of the Libertador municipality, was detained in October 2018. His death was officially classified as suicide, although his family and opposition members claim he was murdered while in SEBIN custody.
**Luis Manuel Díaz**, political leader of the Acción Democrática party, murdered in November 2018. Although his death was not directly attributed to the SEBIN, it is framed within a context of political violence linked to the repression of the agency.
**Zuleima Martínez**, human rights activist detained in 2016 and subsequently disappeared. Her family claims the SEBIN is involved in her disappearance.
**Wilmer Azuaje**, former deputy and opposition figure arrested in 2017 and reported missing; his case highlights retaliatory tactics against political opponents.
**Javier Antonio Rojas**, detained during the protests of 2014 and disappeared. His case has been documented by human rights organizations.
**Gerardo Carrero**, political activist who disappeared in 2018 after being arrested by the SEBIN.
**José Antonio García**, a young man who was detained in 2014 and whose family has reported his disappearance.
It's important to note that many cases of deaths and forced disappearances are not officially documented, and families face difficulties in making their complaints public. Human rights organizations continue to document these cases and denounce the impunity in Venezuela.
**Conclusion**
The SEBIN represents a fundamental pillar in the control system of the Venezuelan government, serving as a weapon of terror, repression, and espionage to maintain power. Its hierarchical structure and international connections, especially with Cuba, allow it to operate in an environment of impunity. The arrests of its members abroad highlight the increasing international pressure on their criminal activities. The lack of accountability and the impunity surrounding the SEBIN remain important concerns in the context of human rights defense in Venezuela and beyond. The conclusions of the UN report reinforce the need for an effective international response to the human rights crisis facing the country.
**Credits**
This analysis has been prepared based on information obtained from various sources, including:
Press articles from El País, BBC Mundo, and Reuters.
Reports from human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
UN report on the human rights situation in Venezuela.
Jesús Daniel Romero became an officer through the Navy Enlisted Program and graduated with honors from Norfolk State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He later graduated from the Naval Aviation Pre-Flight Indoctrination course at the Naval Aviation Schools Command and continued intermediate training in the VT-10 and VT-86 squadrons. He served aboard a nuclear missile cruiser, amphibious operation ships, and staff squadrons, a fixed-wing attack bombing squadron, and an aircraft carrier air wing, and was sent to Libya, Bosnia, Iraq, and Somalia. He served tours with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Panama, the Joint Intelligence Center in Hawaii, and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command. Jesús and his team successfully attacked an international criminal organization operating in several countries and in the United States, dismantling and interrupting criminal activities on behalf of the Mexican cartels.
William L. Acosta is the founder and CEO of Equalizer Private Investigations & Security Services Inc., a licensed and affiliated investigation agency in NYS, FL. With offices and affiliates worldwide. Equalizer maintains offices and subsidiaries in the United States in New York, Florida, and California. Since 1999, Equalizer investigations have successfully closed hundreds of cases, ranging from homicides, missing persons, and other crimes. He has been involved in the criminal defense of hundreds of state and federal criminal defense cases ranging from homicide, narcotics, racketeering, money laundering, conspiracy, and other federal and state charges. He specializes in international and multi-jurisdictional investigations and has conducted investigations in Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, England, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, among other locations. He has directed or coordinated hundreds of investigations related to international drug trafficking, money laundering, and homicides; and has been an instructor and international speaker on various investigative topics. Specialties: Criminal Defense Investigations, International Investigations, Homicides, Undercover Narcotics Operations, Investigations, Asset Forfeiture Investigations, Conspiracy, Human Trafficking, Surveillance, International Terrorism, Intelligence, Technical Surveillance Countermeasures, Internal Affairs Investigations, National Security.
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