The United States has announced a dramatic increase in the reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, doubling it to $50 million (£37.2 million). US officials accuse Maduro of being "one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world," prompting this bold move.
President Donald Trump has been a persistent critic of Maduro, whose recent election victory in January faced heavy scrutiny for alleged vote-rigging, a result rebuffed by numerous countries around the globe. Attorney General Pam Bondi highlighted the connection between Maduro and drug smuggling operations, stating, “Maduro is linked to a vast network of drug trafficking.”
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil responded dismissively to the new reward, calling it "pathetic" and an instance of "political propaganda." He suggested that Bondi's remarks were an attempt to detract attention from domestic issues, particularly surrounding the case of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
During Trump's presidency, Maduro and several Venezuelan officials faced charges including narco-terrorism and corruption, following claims that Maduro collaborated with the Colombian guerrilla group Farc to exploit cocaine as a weapon against the United States. Bondi, in a recent video, connected Maduro to various illegal organizations, including Tren de Aragua, a notorious Venezuelan gang recognized as a terrorist group by the US, and the powerful Sinaloa Cartel of Mexico.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) claims to have intercepted 30 tons of cocaine associated with Maduro and his operatives, alleging that nearly seven tons directly ties back to him. Despite these assertions, Maduro has steadfastly denied any claims of drug trafficking involvement.
The escalating rewards for information mark a continuation of the fraught relationship between the US and Venezuelan government. As tensions rise, Maduro remains in power, facing accusations of repressing political opposition and utilizing violence against dissenters.
Adding a twist to the situation, in June, Hugo Carvajal, Venezuela's former intelligence chief, was convicted in Spain on drug charges. Initially a pariah, Carvajal had once sought to rally the military against Maduro but later pleaded guilty in hopes of receiving a lesser sentence in exchange for crucial information about the president.
The international community, including the UK and EU, has imposed sanctions against Maduro's government following the contested elections, reflecting widespread condemnation of his leadership.
