The Trump administration has announced an unprecedented $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, doubling the previous amount as part of a crackdown on his narco-terror regime.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and the State Department said Thursday the bounty reflects Maduro’s role in partnering with foreign terrorist organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel and Cartel of the Suns to ship deadly drugs into the U.S.
“Maduro will not escape justice and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes,” Bondi said.
One of the World’s Biggest Narco-Traffickers
According to the Department of Justice:
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30 tons of cocaine tied to Maduro’s network have been seized — nearly 7 tons directly linked to Maduro himself.
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$700 million in assets connected to Maduro have been confiscated, including two private jets and nine vehicles.
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Cocaine shipments are often laced with fentanyl, killing countless Americans.
The U.S. first charged Maduro in 2020 with leading the Cartel of the Suns, escalating sanctions and increasing pressure for regime change.
From Rigged Elections to Repression
Since taking power after Hugo Chávez’s death, Maduro has rigged elections, banned opposition candidates, and crushed dissent. In 2019, the U.S. recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate president.
Under Biden, limited talks in 2022 eased some sanctions in exchange for “electoral reforms” — which never materialized. In 2024, Maduro once again stole the election after barring popular opposition leader María Corina Machado from running.
Open Hostility Toward the U.S. and Allies
Maduro routinely attacks the U.S. and its allies, recently calling Israel “an enemy of the world” and promoting anti-Western conspiracy theories.
Now, with the reward doubled, the Trump administration is urging anyone with information to come forward:
Call 1-202-307-4228 or submit tips online.
