Venezuela Frees Oil Expert Whose Detention Raised Red Flags (2)

Venezuela has released a prominent oil consultant who also has US citizenship after four days in detention, a case that highlights the country’s persistent risks as the Washington-backed administration in Caracas seeks to revive the petroleum industry.

Evanan Romero, 86, is a Venezuelan-born, Houston-based consultant for international oil companies and advises opposition leader María Corina Machado.

Romero had his initial hearing on Tuesday and, due to his age, was granted an alternative precautionary measure requiring him to report regularly to authorities, the Venezuelan Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement released overnight. He was arrested Friday in the western city ...