U.S. Works With Venezuelan Official Accused in Dissident Killing

Chilean authorities are seeking the extradition of Rafael Enrique Gámez Salas, a 40-year-old Venezuelan held in federal custody in Los Angeles, on charges that he led a kidnapping resulting in the death of exiled Venezuelan dissident Lt. Ronald Ojeda in Santiago.

Prosecutors in Chile allege Gámez acted on orders from Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, who they say paid the leadership of the Tren de Aragua gang to carry out the operation. Ojeda, 32, had been granted asylum in Chile after attempting an uprising against former President Nicolás Maduro.

The Trump administration has maintained direct contact with Cabello since U.S. forces captured Maduro in Caracas in January and brought him to New York for drug-trafficking charges. Cabello has participated in meetings with U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Gen.

Francis Donovan, head of U.S. Southern Command, on mining-sector issues and earthquake relief. Before Maduro's capture, U.S. authorities had charged Cabello in the same drug-trafficking indictment as Maduro and offered a $25 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

They believe Ojeda was tortured for information on the Venezuelan opposition before he was killed and buried under cement. " Current and former U.S. officials told ProPublica that the administration has not pressed Venezuela to remove or hand over Cabello despite the pending charges.

Gámez, who crossed the Mexican border in late 2024, told ProPublica from jail that he worked in restaurants and as a delivery driver in Utah and denied any connection to the gang or to Cabello. Cabello has publicly denied any Venezuelan involvement in the killing.