US raises bounty for Venezuela’s president to $50M

ISTANBUL

The US State Department and the Department of Justice announced a reward of up to $50 million Thursday for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for alleged violations of US narcotics laws.

The reward, being offered under the Narcotics Rewards Program, marks a significant escalation in the US government’s efforts to bring Maduro to justice.

It doubles the previous bounty, which was set in January at $25 million.

The statement said the Venezuelan leader has been a key figure for more than a decade in the Cartel de los Soles, a criminal organization accused of trafficking large quantities of drugs into the US.

"For over a decade, Maduro has been a leader of Cartel de los Soles, which is responsible for trafficking drugs into the United States," it said.

On July 25, the US Treasury Department designated the cartel as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group, citing its ongoing role in international narcotics trafficking.

"Since 2020, Maduro has strangled democracy and grasped at power in Venezuela. Maduro claimed to have won Venezuela’s July 28, 2024 presidential election but failed to present any evidence that he had prevailed.

“The United States has refused to recognize Maduro as the winner of 2024 election and does not recognize him as the President of Venezuela," the statement added.

“@StateDept and @TheJusticeDept are increasing the reward for the arrest of dictator Nicolas Maduro to $50 million for violating U.S. narcotics laws. Maduro is the head of the vicious Cartel de Los Soles, a narco-terror organization which has taken over Venezuela. Maduro MUST be brought to justice, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X.