U.S. Offers $50 Million for Information on Maduro
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondy stated on Thursday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the State Department are now offering a reward of $50 million for information that could lead to the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
The pursuit of information about Maduro began back in 2020 during President Donald Trump’s first term. At that time, the DOJ announced a reward of $15 million. In a video shared on Bondy’s account, she characterized this latest increase as “historic.” I mean, it seems significant, right?
Bondy mentioned, “Maduro relies on foreign terrorist organizations such as the TDA and the Sinaloa cartel, along with his son’s group, to transport drugs and violence into our nation. So far, the DEA has confiscated 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his associates.”
“He stands as one of the world’s foremost drug traffickers and poses a serious threat to our national security. Thus, we’ve upped the reward to $50 million,” she added. “Maduro won’t escape justice under President Trump’s direction; he will answer for his vile actions.”
During Trump’s administration, in addition to the increased reward, the DOJ lodged indictments against Maduro and his close allies, framing Venezuela as a “narcoterrorism” hub, as reported by CNBC.
The State Department indicated that Maduro’s 2020 indictment included accusations related to “narcoterrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and possession of illegal firearms and destructive devices.”
Earlier this year, the DOJ had also raised its reward from $15 million to $25 million before this latest announcement.
Maduro’s tenure has been marked by turmoil, especially in 2024, when widespread protests erupted following what many called a fraudulent presidential election. By July 2024, Maduro’s opposition claimed they had garnered 70% of the vote, suggesting a substantial rejection of his leadership.
According to CNN, “We won. Everyone knows. The entire international community is aware of what transpired in Venezuela and how the people voted for change.”
