Ronald Ojeda

Ronald Leandro Ojeda Moreno (2 September 1991 – disappeared 21 February 2024) was a Venezuelan former army lieutenant and political dissident who opposed the government of Nicolás Maduro. Escaping imprisonment, Ojeda fled Venezuela in 2017 and was later granted political asylum in Chile in 2023. The subsequent investigation by Chilean authorities suggested that Ojeda's murder was politically motivated, and was possibly orchestrated by the Venezuelan authorities with involvement from Tren de Aragua. Ojeda's brother, Germán Alexander Ojeda Moreno, is an army general in the Bolivarian Army of Venezuela.

Detention in Venezuela Ojeda and his comrade, José Rodríguez, were repeatedly detained and accused of being part of the "Espada de Dios" conspiracy, charged with military rebellion, incitement to rebellion, and treason. Both claimed to have been tortured by the Venezuelan military counterintelligence agency. During his imprisonment at Ramo Verde Prison in Los Teques, Ojeda befriended fellow detainee Eduardo Figueroa Marchena, a former aviation lieutenant.

In April 2017, Ojeda was arrested again, accused of rebellion and treason, following his involvement with the Movement for Liberty and Democracy, which rejected Nicolás Maduro as commander-in-chief of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces. and the severe injury of another, Luis Mogollón. Five officers, including Ojeda, managed to flee to Peru and later settled in Chile.

Exile in Chile In 2018, the Maduro government issued a decree expelling 24 military officers, including Ojeda, without trial. Ojeda gained attention in November 2022 when he protested in front of La Moneda Palace in Santiago, demanding the release of political prisoners and condemning dialogue between the Maduro regime and the opposition.

Kidnapping and murder in Chile On 21 February 2024 (at 3:05 a.m), five men posing as Chilean investigative police arrived outside the Ojeda family apartment in Independencia. Preliminary autopsy results indicated death by mechanical asphyxiation, occurring between seven and ten days prior to the discovery.

Judicial process The Ojeda case involved multiple arrests, extradition requests, and has had significant political and diplomatic repercussions between Chile and Venezuela.

The investigation, led by Chilean prosecutor Héctor Barros, suggested that the crime was politically motivated and possibly orchestrated by Venezuelan authorities with the involvement of the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization. Two suspects, Walter Rodríguez Pérez and Maikel Villegas Rodríguez, fled to Venezuela, prompting Chile to request their extradition.

As of July 2024, the only detainee in the case was a 17-year-old Venezuelan minor. The Chilean Supreme Court granted a 60-day extension for the investigation. Meanwhile, key suspects, including Villegas and Larry Álvarez Núñez ("Larry Changa"), were arrested in Colombia and Costa Rica, respectively, with extradition processes underway. In January 2025, Barros linked the murder to a faction of the Tren de Aragua operating in Chile, implicating 16 individuals in Ojeda's killing. Barros revealed that three witnesses implicated the Maduro government. One detainee alleged that Cabello ordered and financed the murder through a criminal intermediary known as El Niño Guerrero."

Political reactions The case strained diplomatic relations between Chile and Venezuela. Venezuelan politician Diosdado Cabello denied any involvement. In January 2025 in reaction to the Chilean prosecutor's findings, Chilean Interior Minister Carolina Tohá said that Chile would appeal to the International Criminal Court if Venezuelan government involvement in the case was confirmed.

Personal life Ojeda was married to Josmarghy Castillo Cuberos, with whom he had one son.

Legacy Ojeda left behind manuscripts detailing alleged corruption within the Venezuelan military, which his family intends to publish. The Venezuelan Political Persecuted Exiles Organization (Veppex) established the "Order of the Venezuelan Exile Ronald Ojeda" to honor Venezuelan exiles fighting for democracy.