Lucas Hunter, a U.S.-French dual citizen, was released after being detained in Venezuela for crossing the border under duress. His family expressed joy at his release and emphasized their relief. Lucas was on a trip near the Venezuela-Colombia border when he was coerced by guards. His sister Sophie shared their hope to reunite and described Lucas's unintended entry into Venezuela due to her illness. The family had maintained contact and sought governmental support for his release, reflecting their persistent efforts during his ordeal.
"My family and I are so happy to hear that my brother, Lucas, was released by Venezuela today," said Sophie Hunter, Lucas's sister, in a statement from Global Reach, which works to bring home Americans detained abroad. "We cannot wait to see him in person and help him recover from the ordeal."
Lucas Hunter, a 37-year-old U.S.-French dual citizen, was on a windsurfing trip and motorcycling through Paraguachón, Colombia, near the border with Venezuela, in January when Venezuelan guards coerced him into crossing, his family wrote on a website created for him.
Sophie Hunter previously told The Washington Post that she and her brother had planned to travel to Colombia together but that she canceled last minute because she was sick. He never intended to enter Venezuela, she said.
His family said their last contact with him before Friday was through a voice memo to Sophie on the morning of Jan. 8. In the months after his detention, the family called on the White House to bring him home.
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