President Nicolas Maduro, who faces US federal drug trafficking charges, is accused of running an international cocaine smuggling operation.
The announcement came Thursday from Attorney General Pam Bondi, who called it a historic $50 million reward and described Maduro as one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world and a threat to our national security.
Today, the Department of Justice and State Department are announcing a historic $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Nicolas Maduro.
He is one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world and a threat to our national security, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a video on social media.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil described the bouty as pathetic and the most ridiculous smokescreen we have ever seen , adding that The dignity of our homeland is not for sale. We reject this crude political propaganda operation.
Washington has refused to recognise Maduros last two election victories, alleging fraud, and has long accused him of leading The Cartel of the Suns, a network said to have worked with Colombias FARC rebels designated by the US as a terrorist group, to ship hundreds of tons of cocaine into the country over two decades.
Bondi also linked Maduro to Venezuelas Tren de Aragua gang and Mexicos Sinaloa cartel, claiming the DEA had seized 30 tons of cocaine connected to Maduro and his associates, including nearly seven tons tied directly to him.
The Attorney General added that the US has seized over $700 million in assets linked to him since September 2024.
Maduro, 62, was first indicted in 2020 during President Donald Trumps first term in office, alongside other top Venezuelan officials, on charges including narco-terrorism.
Yet Maduros reign of terror continues, she said. Under President Trumps leadership, Maduro will not escape justice, and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes.
If tried and convicted, he could face life in prison, but Nicolas Maduro slammed what he called spurious, false accusations during the time of the indictment.
The case has drawn renewed attention after Venezuelas former intelligence chief, Hugo Armando Carvajal, pleaded guilty in June to US drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges.
Miami Herald, citing sources familiar with the case, reported that Carvajal had offered to provide US authorities with documents and testimony implicating Maduro.
Tensions between the US and Venezuela have worsened in recent years, with Washington refusing to recognise Maduro as president since the State Department labelled the 2018 election deeply flawed and accused him of fraud in the July 2024 presidential vote.
On Thursday, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello claimed security forces had foiled a bomb plot in a busy area of Caracas, blaming the US and the Venezuelan opposition for the attempted attack.
KanyiDaily had reported how Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner of Venezuelas presidential election in 2024 despite the opposition from several neighboring countries.
READ: Brazil Announces Nigeria's Inclusion As BRICS Partner Country
