The United States has doubled the reward money offered for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. They have now decided to offer $50 million to anyone who provides such information.
In 2020, during former President Joe Biden’s term, the US had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest. This January, that amount was increased to $25 million, shortly before Maduro was elected for a third term as Venezuela’s president. At that time, sanctions were also imposed against some senior Venezuelan officials in addition to Maduro.
This past February, the US State Department officially designated the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization. The US has determined that Tren de Aragua is on the same level of terrorism as MS-13, a terrorist group active in the US and Central America, and many Mexican cartels. Subsequently, in July, the US also designated the Venezuelan Cartel de Los Soles as a terrorist organization. In a post on X, US Attorney General Pam Bondi accused Maduro of having connections with drug trafficking gangs and other criminal groups. She specifically alleged that Maduro works with Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel.
In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Maduro has been working as a senior figure in the Cartel de Los Soles for over ten years. Rubio also stated that the organization is involved in smuggling drugs into the US.
In response to these allegations, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said that the US’s decision to increase the reward amount is aimed at diverting attention from other issues. He stated that Venezuela continues to expose the truth behind the US’s deceptive schemes labeled as counter-terrorism, while the US is working to gain the approval of Venezuela’s opposition party. However, he emphasized that national dignity is not for sale and that Venezuela rejects the US’s attempts to devalue their country.
