On Thursday, US Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed that the state and Justice Department are providing a $50 million reward for information that could lead to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's arrest. The US Justice and State Departments claim that Maduro is linked to supporting drug cartels and violent street gangs while overseeing a regime noted for corruption and repression. “Maduro collaborates with foreign terrorist organizations such as [Tren de Aragua], Sinaloa, and Cartel of the Suns to import dangerous drugs and violence into our nation,” Bondi stated in a video shared on X.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has confiscated 30 tons of cocaine connected to Nicolas Maduro and his close associates, with Bondi mentioning that “almost seven tons are directly tied to Maduro, which serves as a key income source for the lethal cartels based in Venezuela and Mexico.”
“Cocaine is frequently mixed with fentanyl, leading to the loss and devastation of countless American lives. The DOJ has seized over $700 million in assets linked to Maduro, including two private jets, nine vehicles, and more. Still, Maduro’s reign of terror persists,” Bondi stated in a video.
The Cartel of the Suns, a Venezuelan drug trafficking organization composed of senior government officials, has ties to Maduro.
Investigators claim that the cartel worked closely with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), an entity labeled as a terrorist group by the United States.
Maduro was recently inaugurated for a third term amid extensive international criticism and allegations of election fraud, according to AFP.
In March 2020, Maduro was charged in the US with several federal offenses, including narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and explosive devices, and conspiracy to possess such weapons, as reported by Fox News.
Following the indictment, the Trump administration initially offered $15 million for Maduro's capture during his first term. Under former President Joe Biden, the State Department raised the bounty to $25 million on January 10, as stated by the New York Post.
The amount was increased to $50 million on Thursday during the Trump administration.
"Maduro is not the president of Venezuela, and his regime is not the legitimate government," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month, reported by Fox News.
"One year since dictator Nicolás Maduro ignored the will of the Venezuelan people by unfoundedly declaring himself the winner, the United States remains steadfast in its strong support for the restoration of democratic order and justice in Venezuela," he added.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, Maduro will face justice, and he will be held accountable for his heinous crimes,” Bondi remarked in the video, adding that “he is among the largest drug traffickers globally and poses a threat to our national security.”
