The United States dramatically increased its bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to $50 million on Thursday, doubling the previous $25 million reward set in January. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest on federal drug trafficking charges. Consequently, the US labels Maduro a top global narco-trafficker and national security threat.
Venezuela immediately condemned the US action as “pathetic” and “ridiculous.” Foreign Minister Yvan Gil declared Venezuela’s dignity “is not for sale,” rejecting the bounty as crude propaganda. Moreover, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello alleged a US-backed bomb plot in Caracas was just thwarted.
Longstanding US Allegations
Washington does not recognize Maduro’s 2013, 2018, or 2024 election victories. Federal prosecutors initially charged Maduro in 2020, accusing him of leading “The Cartel of the Suns,” shipping vast cocaine quantities to the US over decades. Investigators link the cartel to Colombia’s FARC rebels and other criminal groups like Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa cartel.
The US has seized over $700 million in Maduro-linked assets since last September, including government planes. Bondi stated the DEA seized nearly 7 tons of cocaine tied directly to Maduro. Consequently, he faces potential life imprisonment if tried and convicted. However, Maduro previously dismissed the charges as “spurious” and “false.”
Relations between Washington and Caracas remain severely strained, with the US maintaining heavy sanctions and refuses to recognize Maduro’s presidency. Meanwhile, Venezuela consistently denounces US interference. This bounty hike significantly intensifies the long-running confrontation.
