The U.S. State Department and Justice Department announced a reward of up to $50 million on Thursday for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for alleged violations of U.S. drug laws.
The reward, offered under the Narcotics Control Rewards Program, represents a significant escalation of the U.S. government’s efforts to bring Maduro to justice.
It doubles the previous $25 million bounty, set in January.
The statement said the Venezuelan leader has been a key figure in the Los Soles cartel, a criminal organization accused of smuggling large amounts of drugs into the United States, for more than a decade.
“For more than a decade, Maduro has been the leader of the Los Soles cartel, which is responsible for drug trafficking into the United States,” it said.
The U.S. Treasury Department designated the cartel a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Group (SDGT) on July 25, citing its ongoing role in the international drug trade.
“Since 2020, Maduro has stifled democracy and held on to power in Venezuela. He claimed to have won the July 28, 2024 presidential election, but has not provided any evidence that he actually won.
The United States has refused to recognize Maduro as the winner of the 2024 election and does not recognize him as the president of Venezuela,” the statement added.
