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The Venezuelan government stated on Thursday that the United States insisted on including former marine Dahud Hanid Ortiz, convicted of a triple murder in Madrid in 2016, in the recent prisoner exchange between the two countries.
The complaint was made by the Minister of Interior and Justice, Diosdado Cabello, during his television program "Con el mazo dando."
"We know what was there, I even said at the airport that they were asking for a killer. They are taking a convicted murderer," Cabello stated about Ortiz, a former marine who is an American citizen of Venezuelan descent.
He asserted that Washington was well aware of the crimes committed by Ortiz—who murdered two Cuban women and an Ecuadorian working in a law firm in Madrid—and yet defended him as part of the negotiation.
Last Friday, the government of Donald Trump triumphantly announced the release of the last 10 American citizens detained in Venezuela, as part of an exchange for 252 Venezuelan migrants, who were sent to the Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot) in El Salvador.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised President Trump's "leadership" in the operation, without mentioning details about each of those released.
However, the inclusion of Hanid Ortiz has generated controversy, both due to his criminal profile and the apparent official silence from Washington regarding the matter.
Dahud Hanid Ortiz, born in Caracas in 1970 and naturalized as an American citizen, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in Venezuela for a triple homicide that occurred in a law office in Madrid in December 2016.
The ex-marine, upon learning that his wife was involved with a Peruvian lawyer, traveled to Madrid with the intention of murdering him.
In his attack, he killed three innocent people: Cubans Elisa Consuegra and Maritza Osorio, and Ecuadorian Pepe Castillo Vega, employees of the law firm.
After committing the crimes, he set the place on fire and fled to Venezuela, where he was arrested in 2018 in Puerto Ordaz.
The extradition requests from Spain were denied by Caracas, arguing that Ortiz is a Venezuelan citizen.
Since then, he has remained in prison on charges of premeditated murder, with two appeals rejected by the justice system.
Cabello insisted that the U.S. government actively advocated for Ortiz's inclusion in the agreement, despite his criminal record.
“Jorge Rodríguez said to them: he is a murderer. And they insisted,” he said, referring to the Venezuelan chief negotiator.
So far, the State Department has not issued specific comments regarding Ortiz's case. Washington has only responded that "many" of the released Americans reported having been tortured, a justification that some analysts associate with the controversial release of the convict.
While the U.S. asserts that there are no American citizens or residents unjustly detained in Venezuela, the NGO Foro Penal still includes Cuban Aidel Suárez Medina, 37 years old, a Florida resident, in its list.
Suárez was arrested in December 2024 in Güiria, Sucre state, after entering the country by sea. He had returned to formalize his relationship with a Venezuelan woman, but he was detained without any explanation, remained incommunicado for months, and is now incarcerated in El Rodeo prison.
Frequently Asked Questions about the prisoner exchange between Venezuela and the U.S.
Who is Dahud Hanid Ortiz and why is his release controversial?
Dahud Hanid Ortiz is a former U.S. Marine of Venezuelan descent, convicted of the murder of two Cuban women and an Ecuadorian in Madrid in 2016. His inclusion in the prisoner exchange between Venezuela and the United States has sparked controversy due to his criminal background and the fact that he was released despite a 30-year prison sentence. The case has been criticized for being seen as an evasion of justice.
What was the prisoner exchange agreement between Venezuela and the U.S.?
The prisoner exchange agreement between Venezuela and the United States involved the release of 10 American citizens detained in Venezuela in exchange for 252 Venezuelan migrants, who were sent to El Salvador. Dahud Hanid Ortiz was one of those released, which has sparked criticism due to his criminal record.
What has the U.S. government said about the release of Dahud Hanid Ortiz?
The U.S. government has not made specific comments regarding the release of Dahud Hanid Ortiz. However, it has justified the exchange by arguing that many released Americans have reported being tortured in Venezuela. The State Department has maintained official silence on Ortiz's case, which has been criticized by some analysts.
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