Chile sentences first extradited suspect to 20 years for kidnapping, murder of ex-Venezuelan officer

A Chilean court sentenced Maickel Villegas to 20 years for his role in the February 2024 kidnapping and murder of former Venezuelan military officer Ronald Ojeda. Villegas is the first suspect extradited and tried in an oral trial for the crime, which has been linked to transnational organized crime. The conviction marks a milestone in cross-border judicial cooperation, though the broader network behind the killing remains unresolved.