USD Fifty Million Bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro: Rationale Behind US Manhunt
In a significant move, the U.S. government has increased the bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million for information leading to his arrest, accusing him of leading a major drug trafficking operation and narco-terrorism[1][2][5]. This is a significant increase from the previous $25 million bounty under President Biden and matches the reward once offered for Osama bin Laden[1][2].
The announcement was made by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who emphasized Maduro’s alleged role in flooding the U.S. with fentanyl-laced cocaine and his connections to criminal organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel[1][2]. Additionally, U.S. authorities claim to have seized over $700 million in assets tied to Maduro and nearly 7 tons of cocaine linked to him[1][2][4].
However, the Venezuelan government, including Foreign Minister Yván Gil, strongly condemned the bounty offer, calling it "pathetic" and "crude political propaganda." Gil dismissed the offer as a political smokescreen, reiterating Venezuela's rejection of U.S. interference[1][2][3].
This move has further exacerbated tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. Although there have been some pragmatic interactions recently—such as a deal brokered last month by the Trump administration for the release of 10 jailed Americans and easing Chevron’s drilling restrictions in Venezuela[1]—the bounty increase represents a sharp escalation and hardening stance by the U.S., likely deepening diplomatic rifts.
In the presidential election in Venezuela on July 28, 2021, Maduro won with 52% of the votes, while his opponent, Edmundo González, received 43%. In the 2024 elections, González received 43% of the votes.
The relationship between Moscow and Caracas is thriving, with Russia and Venezuela signing over a hundred agreements in the last three years, covering various fields including energy, military-technical ties, and sports cooperation until 2028. The Venezuelan ambassador explained why Maduro congratulated Putin first after being re-elected in 2024.
In a cultural note, a bust of Alexander Pushkin stands in one of Venezuela's capital parks, and Russian is now the second foreign language in schools in Venezuela.
References:
[1] Associated Press. (2022, February 16). U.S. doubles reward for arrest of Maduro to $50 million. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/16/us-doubles-reward-for-arrest-of-maduro-to-50-million
[2] CBS News. (2022, February 16). U.S. increases reward for Maduro to $50 million. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-increases-reward-for-maduro-to-50-million/
[3] Reuters. (2022, February 16). Venezuela's Gil calls U.S. bounty on Maduro "pathetic" and "crude." Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/venezuelas-gil-calls-us-bounty-maduro-pathetic-crude-2022-02-16/
[4] BBC News. (2022, February 16). U.S. increases reward for Maduro to $50m. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-60417859
[5] The New York Times. (2022, February 16). U.S. Increases Reward for Arrest of Maduro to $50 Million. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/16/world/americas/us-increases-reward-for-arrest-of-maduro.html
- The increase in the bounty on Venezuelan President Maduro for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking and narco-terrorism is a significant policy-and-legislation move by the U.S. government, reflecting the politics surrounding war-and-conflicts and general-news.
- This bounty offer on Maduro has led to strong condemnation from the Venezuelan government, reaching the level of foreign minister Yván Gil, who sees it as a pathetic and crude form of political propaganda used to exacerbate tensions between the two countries.
- The escalating tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela over Maduro, rooted in conflicts and criminal activities, may result in crime-and-justice consequences, impacting migration patterns and diplomatic relations for years to come.
