Bounty of $50 million offered for capture of Maduro by U.S. authorities
In recent years, the South American nation of Venezuela has witnessed a mass exodus, with around seven million people, approximately a quarter of the population, leaving their homeland. The United Nations data does not provide specific details about the cause of this population's departure.
The exodus is believed to be a consequence of the country's ongoing issues with mismanagement, corruption, and sanctions. The Venezuelan government, under President Nicolás Maduro, has been dealing with these challenges since 2020, leading to a strained economy and a deteriorating quality of life for the citizens.
The U.S. government has taken a firm stance against Maduro, officially accusing him of violating U.S. drug laws. Maduro is alleged to be the leader of the "Cartel de los Soles," a major drug trafficking organization responsible for smuggling cocaine and other narcotics into the United States. In response, the U.S. Department of Justice and the State Department have offered a reward of up to $50 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction related to narcotics trafficking. Maduro is labelled a "narco-terrorist," and the cartel he leads was designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity by the U.S. Treasury in July 2025.
The U.S. does not recognise Maduro as the legitimate president following the disputed July 28, 2024 election. The U.S. regards Maduro as an authoritarian leader who has suppressed democracy since 2020. Consequently, relations between the two countries remain severely strained, with the U.S. maintaining strong opposition to Maduro's regime and pursuing legal and punitive measures against him and his associates.
The U.S., the EU, and many Latin American countries recognise the opposition candidate Juan Guaidó as the winner of the disputed election. Guaidó, who is currently living in Spanish exile, claimed victory at the time. However, the exact cause for the population's departure was not specified in the UN data, and it remains unclear whether the Venezuelan government is responsible for the mass exodus.
Venezuela was once a wealthy oil country, but the ongoing issues have led to economic instability and political turmoil. The U.S. Department of State has doubled the reward for information leading to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro, up to $50 million (around 43 million euros). However, Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yván Gil has rejected the U.S. reward, calling it a "ridiculous" and "pitiful" spectacle. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that Maduro is responsible for bringing deadly drugs - cocaine - and violence into the U.S.
In summary, the U.S. has escalated both legal accusations against Maduro for drug trafficking and diplomatic rejection of his presidency, reflecting highly adversarial relations between the two nations. The mass exodus from Venezuela, the economic instability, and the political turmoil continue to pose significant challenges for the country and its people.
- The ongoing issues in Venezuela, including mismanagement, corruption, and sanctions, as well as the country's involvement in war-and-conflicts such as the drug trade, are subjects of general-news and politics, both domestically and internationally.
- The mass exodus from Venezuela is related to the country's strained economy and deteriorating quality of life, which in turn are linked to politics and crime-and-justice, particularly the alleged involvement of President Nicolás Maduro in drug trafficking and violent conflicts.
