The United States has sharply escalated its pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, offering a record $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
The announcement came Thursday from Attorney General Pam Bondi, who accused the 62-year-old president of working with foreign terrorist groups and major drug cartels to smuggle guns, cocaine, and other illegal drugs into the United States.
Allegations Against Maduro
According to Bondi, Maduro has partnered with criminal organizations such as:
- Tren de Aragua (a notorious Venezuelan gang)
- Sinaloa Cartel (Mexico)
- Cartel of the Suns (a network of Venezuelan military-linked traffickers)
Bondi alleged that these groups are used to funnel cocaine — often laced with fentanyl — into the U.S., fueling deadly drug overdoses.
The DEA has reportedly seized 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro’s network, with nearly seven tons directly tied to him personally.
“This represents a major source of income for gangs in Venezuela and Mexico,” Bondi said, warning that the drugs have caused “countless American deaths.”
A Long-Standing Target for U.S. Authorities
Maduro has been under U.S. indictment since March 2020, when the Southern District of New York charged him with:
- Narco-terrorism
- Conspiracy to import cocaine into the U.S.
- Possession of machine guns and destructive devices
- Conspiracy to possess such weapons
At the time, the Trump administration offered a $15 million bounty for his capture.
President Joe Biden’s administration later raised it to $25 million.
Now, the Trump administration has doubled that figure again to $50 million, making it one of the largest rewards ever offered for a foreign head of state.
Asset Seizures
Bondi revealed that the Department of Justice has confiscated over $700 million in assets linked to Maduro, including:
- Two private jets
- Nine vehicles
- Other luxury holdings
Still, she said, “Maduro’s reign of terror continues,” calling him “one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world” and “a threat to our national security.”
She vowed he would “be held accountable for his despicable crimes.”
Disputed Presidency
Maduro has ruled Venezuela since April 2013, consolidating power in the executive branch while sidelining the National Assembly.
In July 2024, he claimed victory in his bid for a third presidential term, but the election results were widely disputed:
- Venezuela’s Maduro-aligned election authority declared him the winner without releasing the full vote tallies from 30,000 polling stations.
- Opposition candidate Edmundo González — backed by opposition leader Maria Corina Machado — claimed an overwhelming win, citing counts from 80% of ballot boxes.
- Machado said González won twice as many votes as Maduro.
International Response
In November 2024, then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken formally recognized González as Venezuela’s president-elect.
The Trump administration has maintained that stance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently accused Maduro of election fraud, saying:
“One year since dictator Nicolás Maduro defied the will of the Venezuelan people, the United States remains firm in its support for Venezuela’s restoration of democracy and justice. Maduro is not the President of Venezuela, and his regime is not the legitimate government.”
Both González and former opposition leader Juan Guaidó have since fled Venezuela, after Maduro’s government issued arrest warrants against them.
What the $50 Million Bounty Means
The reward puts Maduro among the most wanted individuals in U.S. law enforcement history. It signals that Washington is prepared to intensify its pursuit of the Venezuelan leader, both through legal channels and by targeting his financial networks.
With the bounty in place, the U.S. is effectively calling on insiders and international partners to deliver information that could lead to Maduro’s arrest and extradition.
