The United States has doubled its reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, raising it from $25 million to a record-breaking $50 million. The announcement, made on Thursday, intensifies long-standing tensions between Washington and Caracas.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, speaking in a video shared on social media, described Maduro as “one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world” and a direct threat to US national security. She emphasized that the Department of Justice and the State Department remain committed to bringing him to justice.
Venezuela Responds with Outrage
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil dismissed the US offer as “pathetic” and “ridiculous,” calling it “the most absurd smokescreen we have ever seen.” He stressed that the dignity of Venezuela was not for sale and accused Washington of spreading crude political propaganda.
This is not the first time Maduro has faced such accusations.
In 2020, during former US President Donald Trump’s administration, Maduro and several senior officials faced indictment in New York for “narco-terrorism” and large-scale cocaine trafficking.
The US Justice Department alleges that Maduro leads a criminal network called The Cartel of the Suns. This group is accused of trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States over two decades.
Investigators claim the operation involved close cooperation with Colombia’s FARC rebels, classified by Washington as a terrorist group.
Bondi also linked Maduro to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and Mexico’s notorious Sinaloa Cartel. The DEA reported seizing 30 tons of cocaine connected to Maduro and his associates, with nearly seven tons tied directly to the president. Additionally, US authorities have confiscated over $700 million in Maduro-linked assets, including two Venezuelan government aircraft.
Political Crisis Deepens
Relations between the US and Venezuela have been strained for years. Tensions worsened after the State Department labeled the 2018 Venezuelan presidential election as “deeply flawed.”
In July 2024, Maduro again declared victory. However, Washington and several other nations refused to recognize the results, citing evidence of widespread electoral fraud.
The US has since imposed sweeping economic sanctions on Venezuela. In return, Caracas has consistently accused Washington of interfering in its internal affairs. On Thursday, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello claimed authorities had foiled a bomb attack in Caracas, alleging US and opposition involvement.
Ongoing Legal and Political Fallout
If extradited and convicted, the 62-year-old Maduro faces a potential life sentence. Meanwhile, former Venezuelan intelligence chief Hugo Armando Carvajal recently pleaded guilty in the US to drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges.
Sources told The Miami Herald that Carvajal is cooperating with US prosecutors. He is providing testimony and documents that could further implicate Maduro.
Despite mounting legal threats, Maduro rejects all allegations as “spurious” and politically motivated. He vows to resist what he calls Washington’s orchestrated campaign to undermine his government.
