A former Venezuelan military officer, Ronald Ojeda, who has lived in Chile since 2017 after opposing the government of Nicolás Maduro, was abducted from his Santiago home by four individuals who impersonated police officers from the Investigations Police. He was taken away half-naked, and there has been no word about his status for 48 hours. The incident has placed the leftist government under intense scrutiny. President Gabriel Boric canceled holidays to meet with Interior Minister Carolina Tohá, Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren, and Justice Minister Luis Cordero to discuss a case that has suddenly become politically central. A government spokesperson called the event one of extreme seriousness, and the public prosecutor’s office has engaged in the investigation. The deputy interior minister said no possible scenario could be ruled out at this stage.
“The case raises alarms for several reasons, including the possibility that the kidnapping involved individuals sent by Maduro’s regime. There are reports, some from local outlets, suggesting Ojeda might have even been taken out of the country and could already be in Venezuela”, reported a Chilean daily newspaper. These claims have added another layer of sensitivity to the situation as officials try to verify them.
Vallejo noted that Chilean Ambassador to Caracas, Jaime Gazmuri, is working to set up a conversation with the Venezuelan government’s Americas vice minister. She indicated ongoing contact at multiple levels, including government, police, and prosecutors. The Venezuelan presidential palace declined to comment.
In Santiago, prosecutors and the Investigations Police are carrying out procedures aimed at ruling out the possibility of a ransom-driven kidnapping, as no demand has been made to Ojeda’s family. The former officer had a stable job in the security sector at a local office and did not have outstanding debts with informal lenders. Local media reports describe a search of vehicles that moved through the Costanera Norte highway in the capital the night Ojeda went missing, noting a Nissan Versa was found containing clothing and other items that appeared to be counterfeit police insignia.
Disentangled Past
Before leaving Chile, the ex-officer had already served time in connection with the 2017 incident known as the Espada de Dios, a failed attempted uprising by some police officers amid heightened tensions between Maduro’s government and its opponents. Ojeda had escaped from Cenapromil, the military processing center in Caracas commonly known as Ramo Verde.
Recently, Ojeda appeared on a list of 33 members of the Bolivarian National Armed Force who were expelled and degraded for alleged treason. His name also features among those labeled criminals and terrorists who were accused of plotting against Maduro. Investigations into the so-called Operation White Bracelet have sparked a broader crackdown that has affected not only the dynamics between the government and its opponents but also the domestic political landscape in the lead-up to upcoming presidential elections.
Regional voices have joined the chorus calling for accountability. Former Chilean president and ex United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, along with other regional figures, urged governments and political forces to prevent a drift toward authoritarian practices in Venezuela. They criticized Venezuela for suspending activities at the UN Human Rights Office on Venezuelan soil and expelling staff, stressing that such moves harm regional integrity and human rights oversight.