Enforced disappearances in Venezuela have been characterized by being of short duration, occurring mainly during the administration of Nicolás Maduro. In 2018, there were at least 200 cases of enforced disappearances, and in 2019 at least 524 cases, with an average duration of five days. According to Foro Penal and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the short duration of the disappearances have been intended to avoid the scrutiny that could come with large-scale and long-term detentions. A 2019 report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights concluded that enforced disappearances had been used In Venezuela as a method by the government to censor opponents and instill fear. The Venezuelan constitution prohibits enforced disappearance, even in states of emergency.
In some cases, missing persons have died in custody shortly after their detentions. For example, in 2018 no information was provided about the place of confinement or reasons for the arrest of opposition councilman Fernando Albán until after his death in custody, three days after his arrest, and in 2019 corvette captain Rafael Acosta Arévalo died in a military hospital, with visible signs of torture, after having been missing.
Although in most cases the disappearances have been of short duration, there are cases of disappearances in Venezuela that have been ongoing for years. The whereabouts of diver Hugo Marino and activist Alcedo Mora, who have been missing for more than four and eight years respectively, are currently unknown. Although their detention by security forces is suspected, by 2023 neither the detention nor the place of confinement of any of them had been confirmed.