Miami Herald Reporter Detained In Venezuela Back In Miami
CARACAS, VENEZUELA (CBSMiami) –The Miami Herald's Jim Wyss was embraced by his colleagues, competitors and his beautiful Colombian girlfriend Sunday. The Miami Herald's Andean bureau chief was back in South Florida after being detained for 48 hours in Venezuela while on assignment.
"Once they established I was a reporter trying to do my job, they seemed as interested as anybody in getting this matter resolved as quickly as possible," said Wyss.
It started last Thursday, in the border town of San Cristobal, near Cucuta, Colombia, where Wyss was working on a story about the trade in contraband and trying to get information from the National Guard.
"After a couple hours not getting any answers, I said I'll find my answers elsewhere and they said I couldn't leave and at that point I was turned over to military counter intelligence," said Wyss.
Wyss said he was questioned for several hours, held overnight and then questioned again.
"As word began to leak out that I was there, thanks to the local press and then you guys, the media attention increased and they became aware of the fact I was a reporter just trying to do my job, they moved me to immigration, took me to Caracas, I spent one night there, and I was released," said Wyss.
Wyss said once the situation was resolved, the Venezuelans told him he didn't need to leave the country and was welcome back any time he wanted.
"What's next? Well, I live in Bogotá, Colombia, so I'm going to soak up a little sun in Miami and head back home to keep working," said Wyss.
