Bounty of $50 million offered for Maduro's apprehension by the United States
The U.S. government has doubled the bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million for information leading to his capture on drug trafficking charges. This significant increase from the previous $25 million reward, set in 2020, reflects renewed U.S. efforts to hold Maduro accountable for cocaine trafficking through Venezuela.
According to the U.S. Justice Department, Maduro is accused of leading "The Cartel of the Suns," a cocaine trafficking organization responsible for shipping hundreds of tons of narcotics, often in cooperation with Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, into the United States.
The Biden administration continues to intensify pressure amid Maduro’s disputed election victory in July 2025, which the U.S. and allies consider fraudulent. Maduro faces international isolation and domestic unrest following contested elections and protests.
The bounty places Maduro alongside the highest-profile fugitive targets, underscoring the U.S.'s ongoing campaign linking his regime directly to drug trafficking, narco-terrorism, and cross-border violence impacting American communities.
However, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil has rejected the U.S. reward for information leading to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro. The exodus from Venezuela, a result of the country's current economic and political crisis, has seen approximately seven million people leave the once-wealthy oil country, according to UN figures. This represents about a quarter of Venezuela's population.
The crisis in Venezuela includes mismanagement, corruption, and sanctions. The opposition claimed victory at the time of Maduro's third term inauguration, but the U.S., the EU, and many Latin American countries doubt the official election results of Maduro's third term.
Meanwhile, Juan Guaidó, the opposition candidate recognized by these same countries as the winner of the election, is currently living in Spanish exile. Attorney General Pam Bondi has stated that Maduro is bringing deadly drugs - cocaine - and violence into the U.S.
This move by the U.S. government comes as part of a broader strategy to combat drug trafficking and hold accountable those responsible for the devastating impact on American communities. The U.S. remains committed to promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Venezuela.
- The increased bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for drug trafficking charges is a part of the U.S.'s broader strategy to combat war-and-conflicts related to drugs, such as crime-and-justice and narco-terrorism, affecting American communities.
- The political crisis in Venezuela, characterized by mismanagement, corruption, sanctions, and disputed elections, has led to a significant increase in general-news stories about the ongoing international efforts to hold Maduro accountable for his role in drug trafficking, violence, and humanitarian disasters.
