By Jorge Vega and Alexander Villegas
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Chilean authorities conducted large-scale raids throughout Santiago this week that authorities say led to the arrest of more than a dozen gang members linked to the murder of a Venezuelan dissident.
Attorney General Angel Valencia said the raids that started Wednesday morning led to the arrest of 23 people linked to a cell belonging to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, 16 of which were linked to the murder of Ronald Ojeda, a former Venezuelan lieutenant accused of plotting treason against the Venezuelan government.
The local cell of the gang, which U.S. President Donald Trump labeled a terrorist organization earlier this week, had committed extortion, kidnapping and murder among other crimes, Valencia added.
Chile had previously said the murder was political and interior minister Carolina Toha said on Thursday there was “substantial evidence” that the murder was ordered by Venezuelan authorities.
“This morning, the attorney general has confirmed that there is substantial evidence that indicate a link between the horrible murder of former lieutenant Ojeda and instructions or order from Venezuelan authorities,” Toha said in a post on X on Thursday.
Toha noted that the investigation was still ongoing, but Chile would recur to the International Criminal Court if needed. Venezuela’s ministry of information did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Chile has been struggling with rising crime and a surge of organized criminal groups which have dominated voter concerns as the country heads into an election year.
Speaking to reporters after the raid, Toha said that the raids were evidence that Chile “is capable of facing groups like this”.
“The Chilean state is going to go after them, it’s going to find them and it’s going to make them face justice,” Toha said.
(Reporting by Jorge Vega and Alexander Villegas; Additional reporting by Vivian Sequera; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
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