Five alleged members of the violent transnational Tren de Aragua gang were extradited from the United States to Chile late Tuesday.

Among the suspects includes one accused of being involved in the 2024 kidnapping and murder of Venezuelan dissident and former army lieutenant Ronald Ojeda, authorities said Wednesday.

The group of Venezuelan nationals, all facing charges related to organized crime, were escorted under heavy police security and taken to a maximum-security prison in Santiago, where they remain under strict surveillance in individual cells.

Chile’s prison authorities said the men, considered highly dangerous, are now held in monitored units with cameras, restricted access to outdoor areas and controlled movement.

“They are all held in individual cells under maximum security… their daily behavior is completely monitored,” said acting prison director María Angélica Aguirre. Officials stressed that the transfer was carried out without incident and in coordination with specialized security teams.

Justice Undersecretary Ernesto Muñoz highlighted the international collaboration that led to the extradition, saying Chile is sending “a very clear message” that it will not relent in pursuing suspects of serious crimes.

Prosecutors described the case as a milestone in cross-border cooperation against organized crime, citing the coordinated efforts of Chile’s Public Ministry, the judiciary, the Foreign Ministry, Interpol and U.S. authorities.

Among those extradited is Edgar Javier Benítez Rubio, known as “El Fresa,” who prosecutors say played a direct role in Ojeda’s abduction and killing on the outskirts of Santiago in February 2024.

The case shocked Chile and drew condemnation across the region, as Ojeda had fled Venezuela after criticizing President Nicolás Maduro’s government.

The Tren de Aragua, which originated in Venezuelan prisons, has expanded its operations into several Latin American countries in recent years, exploiting irregular migration routes to traffic people, drugs and weapons.

Chilean officials said the suspects will face trial individually in local courts on charges ranging from homicide to extortion and human trafficking.

AP video by Mauricio Cuevas.