Rafael Quero Silva was arrested by ICE agents who had been tracking him down after several of his victims identified him in images from Telemundo in Miami, where he was working as an extra actor in one of their telenovelas. He was attempting to conceal his past as a torturer and human rights violator under Nicolás Maduro’s regime.
The arrest occurred on February 27, 2025, when the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents apprehended him after he had evaded arrest following the denial of his asylum application. He is currently detained at the Krome Detention Center located in Miami-Dade County. Two of his victims reported him to the FBI after recognizing him in Telemundo’s Miami images, where he had worked as an extra actor in a telenovela, as noted in Venezuela Política.
His image as an actor sharply contrasted with his persona in Venezuela, where as a lieutenant colonel, he commanded—since January 2013—the 47th Detachment of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) in Barquisimeto, located in the western Lara state. From this military position, part of the Regional Command Number 4 (CORE 4), he oversaw the repression that occurred following Hugo Chávez’s death that same year and Nicolás Maduro’s election as president, which was marred by allegations of transparency issues.
Likewise, during the protests of 2013 and 2014—resulting in over 40 deaths, approximately 500 injuries, and 1,800 detentions according to the Attorney General’s Office—he led the repressive apparatus, as indicated by the Penal Forum and Provea, organizations that documented more than 30 torture cases in the stated 2014. Quero Silva has been labeled as responsible for “the most vicious repression” in Barquisimeto, particularly between April 15 and 16, 2013.
Background
The arrest of Rafael Quero Silva is highly significant at this time, as both his victims and human rights NGOs see this case, along with his judicial prosecution, as a crucial precedent against impunity related to Chavismo.
There is speculation about his possible connections with the former governor of Lara, Luis Reyes Reyes, suggesting his involvement in “dubious businesses” related to notary services, though this has not been officially confirmed.
It is expected that Quero Silva’s detention will increase pressure on Maduro’s regime, but this will depend on the judicial decisions made. The victims are fighting to prevent his deportation to Venezuela.
The Accusing Victims
In Lara state, Quero Silva led brutal repressive operations, arbitrary detentions, illegal home searches in the municipalities of Iribarren and Palavecino, as well as torture.
The violent actions of the former military officer in the capital of Lara were denounced by organizations like Funpaz—who presented a dossier of 150 abuse cases by Quero to U.S. prosecutors—and Provea, which specified that on April 15 and 16, 2013, he turned the courtyard of the 47th Detachment (some reports mention the 121st Detachment) into a “concentration camp,” where torture against civilians—men and women—was rampant.
Some of his victims recount the actions of Rafael Quero Silva:
Andrés Colmenárez: Funpaz activist recounted that on April 16, 2013, he was tortured on Quero Silva’s orders for four hours at the 47th Detachment. He claimed to have endured techniques such as “the goat’s blow”—which involves precise strikes to the neck—and was forced into humiliating positions. He sees the ex-military officer’s arrest, alongside Funpaz, as a key precedent in the fight against impunity for human rights violators linked to Chavismo. He demands that he not be deported, as he would not face justice in Venezuela.
Carlos Doubront: arrested in 2013 when he was 26, narrates that he was beaten with helmets and shields. He also claims to have received electric shocks at the directive of Quero Silva. It is important to note that Doubront is the son of a former general of the GNB, who did not protect him; in fact, this fact amplified the brutality he faced.
Israel Colmenárez was arrested in 2013 at the age of 19 and taken to the 47th Detachment. For a period of 48 hours, he was denied food and water and had to endure threats and psychological terror.
Eishler Vásquez in 2014 was shot with pellets that left him with severe facial injuries, requiring multiple surgeries. Journalist Doricer Alvarado referred to his case as an example of the brutality ordered by Rafael Quero Silva.
The Escape to the U.S. and His Arrest
Rafael Quero Silva is behind bars in Krome North awaiting further judicial proceedings
In 2017, Rafael Quero Silva fled with his family to the United States and settled in Florida. Some reports indicate that he lived in the home of banker Ángel Carrillo Lugo, his father-in-law. He applied for political asylum, and based on this claim, he was initially allowed to remain in the country.
By 2018, he was working as an extra actor in Telemundo telenovelas in Miami, where he portrayed roles such as a police officer and was identified by several of his victims who, outraged, reported him to the authorities.
One of the individuals who alerted authorities to his presence in the U.S. was journalist Doricer Alvarado, who identified Quero Silva on her social media account. Despite the allegations against him, he denied being a military or police officer to colleagues in Miami, maintaining a low profile.
However, following the warnings, U.S. authorities, especially the FBI, initiated investigations. After interviewing about 20 of his victims, ICE proceeded to arrest him in February 2025, marking a turning point in the case.
In this investigation, Funpaz’s collaboration was vital, as they coordinated the testimonies of those victims before federal prosecutors about his crimes from 2013 to 2017, including in the U.S. embassy in Madrid in 2019.
Before U.S. Justice
Rafael Quero Silva’s initial hearing before U.S. justice took place on March 21, 2025, when an immigration judge in Florida denied him bail following his first court appearance. He appeared before the judge with two attorneys and argued that he was merely following orders from superiors, including Freddy José Hernández Parabibí (former deputy commander of the Army’s Logistics Command) and Octavio Chacón (general of CORE 4 in Lara).
Some suggest that this defense strategy implies that Quero Silva may be considering cooperating with U.S. authorities by naming other officials.
A second hearing took place on March 24, 2025, in which the options were discussed: continuing the process in the U.S. or deportation. As previously mentioned, the victims and human rights organizations oppose the latter, insisting that he should be tried on U.S. soil for crimes against humanity, as his deportation to Venezuela would only result in impunity.
For now, Rafael Quero Silva remains behind bars in Krome North awaiting decisions regarding his judicial future.