Venezuela: Ban on importation of medications

Event

The Venezuelan government has banned the importation of medication into the country despite severe shortages of medical supplies and other basic necessities. In the same decree, made on May 27, the government also banned the importation of “war” materials such as helmets, bullet proof vests, gas masks, baseball bats and balls, burn creams, bandages, and eye drops. Private delivery services operating in the country - including FedEx, UPS, and DHL - have alerted their customers to these new regulations. It is unclear if this law also pertains to goods brought into the country by travelers. 

Venezuelan expatriates, particularly those living in the United States and Panama, had been organizing shipments of medications to the country to help address critical shortages. The government, however, has accused these individuals and groups of supporting “terrorist” elements amid a wave of major social unrest, including daily or near-daily protests in the capital Caracas and in cities across the country. These protests, launched in early April and expected to continue until further notice, have regularly been marred by violence, including shootings and the regular use of tear gas by security forces, leaving some 60 people dead and hundreds injured.

Context

Demonstrators across the country have been denouncing a wide range of grievances in mass protests and marches, many of which have resulted in violent clashes with police forces. Venezuela has been devastated by a long series of progressively worsening crises affecting the restive country in recent months and years, including a breakdown of the democratic system, major shortages of gasoline, food, and other basic necessities, an alarming spike in rates of violent crime, massive inflation and economic recession, and a resurgence of disease.

Advice

Travelers are advised to always transport controlled medications with the relevant prescription (with generic names indicated) and to be prepared for possible confiscations. Due to the social unrest, individuals in Caracas and other Venezuelan cities are advised to limit movements, to strictly avoid all protests and associated roadblocks due to the likelihood of violence, and to closely monitor the situation.