A Miami Herald journalist detained in Venezuela was released after nearly 48 hours in custody, the US newspaper confirmed on its website Saturday. Reporter Jim Wyss was arrested late Thursday near Venezuela's border with Colombia while reporting on the country's chronic shortages and forthcoming local elections.
Wyss was handed over to US Embassy officials in Caracas on Saturday, the Herald said, adding he had not been mistreated.
"I'm very grateful for everybody who worked to help resolve this problem," Wyss was quoted as saying. "And I'm thankful to the Venezuelan authorities for helping accelerate this process."
The Herald's executive editor Aminda Marqués Gonzalez welcomed the reporter's release.
"Jim is safe and soon will be reunited with his loved ones," she said. "We are grateful to everyone here and in Caracas who helped bring this matter to a close."
The Herald said Wyss was detained by Venezuela's National Guard on Thursday, before being transferred to the Military Intelligence Directorate in the western city of San Cristobal.