Alexandar Sullivan:
The United States has doubled its reward for information leading to the arrest or capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million, intensifying an already bitter diplomatic standoff. The announcement came on Thursday, with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi calling Maduro “one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world” and “a threat to our national security.”
Bondi alleged Maduro has collaborated with criminal organizations, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, the Cartel of the Suns, and Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, to smuggle massive quantities of cocaine—some laced with fentanyl—into the United States. According to the DEA, authorities have seized more than 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro’s network, with nearly seven tons directly tied to him. The Justice Department has also seized over $700 million in assets connected to Maduro, including two private jets.
The Venezuelan government swiftly rejected the accusations. Foreign Minister Yván Gil dismissed the reward as “the most ridiculous smokescreen ever seen” and accused Washington of using the announcement to distract from domestic controversies, including the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Maduro, in power since 2013 and re-elected in January 2024 in a vote widely condemned as fraudulent, has long denied any involvement in drug trafficking. U.S. officials, however, have linked him to Colombian rebel group FARC in a plan to “flood” America with cocaine.
The move marks a sharp escalation in U.S. pressure on Caracas, underscoring Washington’s determination to hold the Venezuelan leader accountable. Whether the increased bounty will yield actionable intelligence remains uncertain, but it sends a clear signal: for the United States, Maduro’s arrest is a priority with a price tag now set at $50 million.
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