The Chilean public prosecutor’s office announced this on Monday. Torren de Aragua Venezuela’s transnational criminal organization Aragua Train was involved in the murder of Venezuelan dissident Ronald Ojeda.
Ojeda is a former lieutenant in the Venezuelan army who was imprisoned by Venezuela’s socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro in 2017 on charges of rebellion and treason. After escaping from prison in November 2017, the slain dissident had been living in exile in Chile, where he had received asylum status. From the government in December 2023.
On February 21, a group of unidentified men posing as Chilean immigration police officers dragged Ojeda barefoot and in her underwear from her apartment, according to security footage obtained by authorities. On March 1, Chilean officials found Ojeda’s body in a suitcase buried under a cement structure in the Maipú commune in Santiago metropolitan area.
Police and forensic investigators work in the area where the body of former Venezuelan military officer Rolando Ojeda was found in Santiago, Chile, March 1, 2024. (Esteban Felix/AP)
At the time of her discovery, authorities estimated that Ojeda had been dead for seven to 10 days, which was “consistent” with the day she was abducted.
“We have used a series of series to prove the participation of each defendant, with the complexities this implies, in the context of transnational organized crime related to the Aragua train, which has committed various crimes, mainly kidnapping. We have carried out the procedures,” said Héctor Barros, the Chilean prosecutor in charge of the case. Said Chilean media.
spare report Because there were no gunshot wounds to the body, the cause of Ojeda’s death was determined to be “mechanical asphyxia due to position.”
“He died of asphyxiation and that is the cause of death that we have confirmed at this point,” Barros said, adding that Chile’s Forensic Service would release an official report on his death within the next few days.
Founded in 2012, Aragua Train has grown from a small gang in Aragua, Venezuela, to a full-fledged international crime syndicate operating in Chile and other countries in the region. In the United States, FBI officials suspect that the FBI mediated the incident. alliance with the MS-13 gang in El Salvador. Authorities reported Aragua train activity in metropolitan areas such as New York City. It is widely believed that the Aragua train grew implicitly. approval of Maduro’s government.
National Prosecutor Angel Valencia said Chilean authorities said on Monday that they had not ruled out involvement of the Maduro government in Ojeda’s death, given that he was a political dissident and a fugitive as a political prisoner.
“Therefore, they say that behind his killing there may have been a purpose to send a signal to dissidents and people fleeing the country,” Valencia said. It goes for a very long time, beyond the borders of its own country. It is a version that has been maintained and cannot be thrown away. ”
Maduro government officials was denied It said members of the Venezuelan opposition were directly responsible for Ojeda’s abduction and murder. accused The dictatorship behind the death of a former military dissident.
Weeks before Ojeda’s disappearance, the Maduro government accused Ojeda and about 30 other current and former military personnel were involved in Operation White Bracelet, an alleged plot to assassinate Maduro himself and his henchmen.
in remarks Prosecutor Valencia told a local radio station on Monday that investigators had remained silent about the case. The reason for this is that there is “no doubt that this was an atypical kidnapping” due to the resources used and the victim being a former Venezuelan military officer. and dissidents.
“There was no question that this was an issue that concerned the Chilean state,” Valencia said.
” modus operandi Or the level of logistics development, the number of resources allocated, etc. At this point we are no longer surprised and concerned,” he continued. “We’ve looked at the way they work, and maybe the amount of resources allocated, the number of people involved, the preparation, the follow-up.”
“Whether or not this was planned from outside, it is clear that if there is a gang that responds to the characteristics of transnational organized crime, it is likely to act on orders given to it by someone not located within Chile. We already know,” Valencia said. “But everything needs to be investigated.”
Juan Carlos Manriquez, a Chilean lawyer representing Ojeda’s family, said: Said Local media reported that he had “no doubt” that the abductions and killings of dissidents had been ordered.
“There is no question that this is a kidnapping and a contract crime. This alleged criminal organization is likely carrying out work on behalf of people who have an interest in him,” Manriquez said. Told. “But in addition, there is no indication that Ronald Ojeda engaged in any illegal activity in this case.”
Chile’s far-left president Gabriel Boric had not publicly commented on the matter at press time. Security Minister Carolina Toha responded to criticism from local opposition politicians for Boric’s failure to speak publicly on the issue: claimed On Tuesday, Borich announced he would act through the government.
“He acts through the ministries that work for his administration. He acts through the public policies promoted by these ministries and by the government of President Gabriel Boric,” Toha said. “in this case, [he] They have been on full force since day one and will continue to do so until this is uncovered and punished. ”
Mr. Toha claimed that Mr. Boric was “tacitly involved in this matter by strengthening and supporting the activities of the police and the public prosecutor’s office.” [and] Contact people who are in a similar situation to the victim and who may be fearful and in need of protection. ”
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
