US Raises Reward for Maduro's Arrest Amid Accusations of Drug Trafficking and Terrorism

The United States Department of Justice, led by Pam Bondi, has dramatically increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million, up from $25 million. On Thursday, US authorities accused Maduro of drug trafficking, ties to terrorism, and posing a direct threat to national security. US Attorney General Pam Bondi described this decision as historic, affirming that under President Trump's leadership, Maduro will be held accountable for his alleged crimes. This announcement was made via a video on the social media platform X, highlighting the heightened US resolve against the Venezuelan leader. The Justice Department referenced instances where the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his close associates. Additionally, assets amounting to over $700 million related to him, including two private jets and a fleet of nine luxury vehicles, have been blocked. Bondi denounced Maduro for utilizing foreign terrorist organizations, such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the Cartel of the Suns, to supply deadly drugs and violence to the United States. The increase in the reward marks a continuation of a rigorous approach by the White House towards Maduro's regime, especially after the inclusion of the Cartel of the Suns on the State Department's official list of terrorist organizations last week. This reclassification enables the US government to allocate diplomatic and operational efforts to prevent Maduro from benefiting from what Bondi described as the destruction of American lives and regional destabilization. Since January, US authorities have criticized Maduro's presidency and deemed it illegitimate following questionable elections last July, which faced widespread denouncement from the international community. In response, the Venezuelan government, through Foreign Minister Yván Gil, labeled the US claims a ridiculous smokescreen and an attempt at political propaganda. Gil dismissed the reward as 'pathetic' and an interference in Venezuela's internal affairs, portraying it as a desperate move reflecting an obsession to undermine the nation’s democracy. This escalation of tensions coincides with pressure from the Organization of Venezuelans Persecuted Politically in Exile (VEPPEX), which recently urged President Trump to take robust actions against Maduro and approximately 400 high-ranking members associated with Chavismo and the Cartel of the Suns. In an open letter, VEPPEX's president, José Antonio Colina, stressed the need for expanded international pressure and requested that European and Latin American nations also classify the Cartel as a terrorist organization to isolate it completely. This latest development marks a significant moment in US-Venezuela relations, highlighting the lengths to which the US is willing to go in its efforts to combat drug trafficking and political unrest stemming from Maduro's regime. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2