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US offers $50m reward for arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro

August 8, 2025

The United States has increased its reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from $25 million to $50 million, with Attorney General Pam Bondi accusing him of being a major narco-trafficker. The Trump administration alleges Maduro has ties to criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel, claiming the DEA has seized 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his associates. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil dismissed these allegations as "pathetic" and "political propaganda," suggesting they serve as a distraction from other controversies.

Who is affected

  • Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his government officials
  • Venezuelan citizens living under Maduro's regime
  • Opposition groups in Venezuela who face repression
  • The United States government and its drug enforcement efforts
  • International community that has rejected Maduro's election results

What action is being taken

  • The US is doubling the reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest from $25 million to $50 million
  • The US government is publicly accusing Maduro of drug trafficking and ties to criminal organizations
  • The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is seizing cocaine allegedly linked to Maduro and his associates
  • The UK and EU are imposing sanctions against Maduro's government
  • Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil is publicly rejecting the US allegations

Why it matters

  • The increased reward represents escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela
  • The allegations connect a sitting head of state to major international drug trafficking operations
  • Maduro's contested re-election has been rejected by much of the international community
  • The situation highlights ongoing accusations of Maduro repressing opposition and silencing dissent
  • The case of Hugo Carvajal, Venezuela's former military intelligence head who was convicted on drug charges, potentially provides precedent for action against Venezuelan officials

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC