SAO PAULO — Chile is set to demand the extradition of a Venezuelan individual from the United States to face trial over the abduction and murder of a former Venezuelan army officer and dissident, according to Chilean prosecutors. This development adds a new chapter to an already tense case that has garnered significant attention among the extensive Venezuelan diaspora.
The Chilean authorities have accused the notorious Venezuelan criminal syndicate, Tren de Aragua, of orchestrating the disappearance and brutal murder of Ronald Ojeda, a 32-year-old former lieutenant. The US government has previously labeled this group as a terrorist organization. Officials intend to extradite the suspect, Edgar Benítez, back to Santiago, Chile, where Ojeda’s gruesome murder occurred over a year ago. Investigators found his body encased in concrete within a suitcase, hastily decomposing due to being covered in quicklime after he vanished on February 21 of last year.
The probe has so far resulted in the arrest of 24 individuals across three nations, showcasing how the Tren de Aragua has expanded its criminal operations across Latin America. This organization has not only benefitted from but also preyed upon the surge of Venezuelan refugees escaping economic turmoil and political oppression.
The latest developments include Chile’s continued push for extraditions related to this case, with additional requests sent to countries within the continent as they apprehend gang members connected to Ojeda’s murder. Within Chile, authorities are processing charges against 19 detained individuals. Additionally, three arrests have occurred in Colombia, with another pair in the U.S., including Benítez.
Benítez, who was charged in his absence with crimes including kidnapping, murder, receiving stolen property, and involvement with a criminal organization, was apprehended in South Bend, Indiana, on February 12. Once Chile submits the extradition request, the legal proceedings will be initiated in the United States, a process that may extend over several months. Benítez has yet to publicly respond to the accusations leveled against him.
This case took on further gravity when Chilean prosecutors implicated high-ranking members in the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. A protected witness linked Maduro’s influential interior minister, Diosdado Cabello, to the alleged plot, escalating tensions between the two nations.
Venezuelan officials have denied these claims, further straining the already fierce diplomatic relations. Should these allegations prove accurate, analysts suggest it would indicate a troubling intensification in Maduro’s campaign against dissent, highlighting the authoritarian measures taken by his administration.
