For several months, the Prosecutor’s Office of Chile has been clear that the order to kill Lieutenant Ronald Ojeda came from Caracas. Thanks to the testimony of a protected witness, the high-ranking chavista official allegedly behind Ojeda’s death has been identified.
It is Diosdado Cabello, Venezuela’s Minister of the Interior, Justice, and Peace, who is also the second-in-command in the chavista government. The lieutenant was kidnapped last year in Santiago, Chile, tortured, killed, and buried in a suitcase under cement.
The Protected Witness’s Testimony
A key witness revealed: “I was told that Diosdado Cabello gave the instruction to carry out the kidnapping through Niño Guerrero, paying him to do so.” This information was reported by Chilevisión channel.
Niño Guerrero is a famous leader of the Tren de Aragua, an international mafia recently declared a terrorist organization by the United States. This gang is also linked to other groups like the Mexican drug cartels and the Mara Salvatrucha.
📻#MesaCentral | Crime of former Venezuelan lieutenant, Ronald Ojeda
National Prosecutor (@FiscaliadeChile), Ángel Valencia, in conversation with @IvanValenzuelaU: “At least one person would say that the order and payment came from Mr. Diosdado Cabello”… pic.twitter.com/vDVJdL5smL
— Tele13 Radio (@Tele13_Radio) January 23, 2025
Operation by Chilean Police and Arrests
The Chilean police have arrested several members of the Tren de Aragua who participated in the operation over 7,000 kilometers away from Caracas. These arrests were the result of a massive operation in the metropolitan region of Santiago. In fact, one of the witnesses is the same man who buried Ojeda, and the prosecutors have a photo of him with the cement bags that covered the suitcase.
Arrest in the United States
In the United States, the FBI captured Rafael Gámez Salas, alias El Turco, who was wanted by Interpol. At 39 years old, El Turco was considered the leader of Los Piratas, a faction associated with the Tren de Aragua in Chile.
A Political Investigation
The National Prosecutor of Chile, Ángel Valencia, confirmed that the testimonies support that the kidnapping and murder of Ojeda were “ordered” and politically motivated. Three witnesses have directly pointed to the Venezuelan government, and one mentions Cabello, who was the vice president of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) at the time.
📻#MesaCentral | “At least one person would say that the order and payment came from Mr. Diosdado Cabello”
National Prosecutor, Ángel Valencia, in conversation with @IvanValenzuelaU, about the crime of former Venezuelan lieutenant, Ronald Ojeda.
Listen here:… pic.twitter.com/UM6TSlLngt
— Tele13 Radio (@Tele13_Radio) January 23, 2025
The Power of Diosdado Cabello in Venezuela
Despite the chavistas’ electoral failures, Diosdado Cabello has regained his political power, placing himself right behind Nicolás Maduro. Additionally, he has placed his cousin, Alexis Rodríguez Cabello, in charge of the SEBIN (Bolivarian National Intelligence Service), the regime’s political police.
The Chilean Government’s Reaction
📻#MesaCentral | Crime of former Venezuelan lieutenant, Ronald Ojeda
National Prosecutor (@FiscaliadeChile), Ángel Valencia, in conversation with @IvanValenzuelaU: “This is a kidnapping with homicide by order, that is the motive, with political motivations”
🔴https://t.co/ElEeQ3tdYC pic.twitter.com/2eX4zXjTMm
— Tele13 Radio (@Tele13_Radio) January 23, 2025
The Chilean government has frozen its relations with Venezuela since the details of the murder became known. Cabello, for his part, took advantage of an event in Caracas to insult Chilean President Gabriel Boric, calling him “stupid.”
Chile’s Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá, declared that if it is confirmed that the murder was ordered by the Venezuelan government, Chile will take legal action.
This morning, the National Prosecutor confirmed that there are substantial indications linking the horrific murder of former lieutenant Ojeda with instructions or orders from Venezuelan authorities.
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— Carolina Tohá (@Carolina_Toha) January 23, 2025
There will be many decisions to make, but one thing we are clear about is that we will go to the International Criminal Court. Other decisions will need to be weighed in due time.
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— Carolina Tohá (@Carolina_Toha) January 23, 2025
The Role of Tren de Aragua in the International Mafia
The Tren de Aragua, a criminal organization born in the Venezuelan Tocorón prison under the leadership of Niño Guerrero, has connections across the continent. Although authorities tried to intervene, Niño Guerrero managed to escape through tunnels in the prison. His whereabouts are currently unknown, but the Spanish police have activated a special group to combat Tren de Aragua.
Leopoldo López Accuses the Venezuelan Government
Diosdado Cabello ordered the kidnapping and murder of Roland Ojeda in Chile. How? Through Tren de Aragua, a criminal organization created and exported to several countries with the regime’s support. Another proof of the criminal nature of the dictatorship in Venezuela. https://t.co/00Vuz6kFo9
— Leopoldo López (@leopoldolopez) January 23, 2025
Leopoldo López, former political prisoner, directly accused the Venezuelan government of ordering Ronald Ojeda’s murder: “Diosdado Cabello ordered the kidnapping and murder of Ronald Ojeda in Chile. How? Through Tren de Aragua, a criminal organization created and exported to several countries with the regime’s support.” López sees this as further evidence of the criminal nature of the Venezuelan government.
Accusations Against the Venezuelan Government
Despite the proven links between the chavista government and Tren de Aragua, the regime has tried to divert attention by accusing opponents like María Corina Machado and Leopoldo López of being involved in the mafia’s arrival in the United States, though no evidence has been provided to support these accusations.
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