MWE Correspondent
The United States has announced a substantial increase in the reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, raising the figure from $25 million to $50 million (€43 million).
The move marks one of the highest bounties ever offered by Washington for a sitting head of state and reflects growing tensions between the two countries.
According to U.S. officials, Maduro is accused of leading what they describe as a vast, state-sponsored drug trafficking operation. Authorities allege that the Venezuelan leader has worked in concert with international drug cartels to smuggle large quantities of cocaine—some reportedly laced with the dangerous synthetic opioid fentanyl—into the United States. The U.S. government has long argued that such operations not only fuel addiction and violence domestically but also serve as a major source of illicit revenue for Caracas.
The allegations, which Maduro has repeatedly denied, have been part of a broader effort by Washington to isolate the Venezuelan government. Over the past several years, the U.S. has imposed a series of economic sanctions on Venezuelan state institutions, oil exports, and top officials in an attempt to weaken Maduro’s hold on power. These measures have coincided with repeated calls for new presidential elections under international supervision.
In March 2020, U.S. federal prosecutors indicted Maduro on charges of “narco-terrorism” and drug trafficking. At the time, the State Department offered a $15 million reward for his capture. The figure was later increased to $25 million earlier this year before Thursday’s announcement doubled it once again. Officials argue that the higher bounty is intended to intensify pressure on Maduro’s allies and encourage insiders to provide actionable intelligence that could lead to his arrest.
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Maduro’s government has dismissed the latest U.S. move as “political persecution” and a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty. In a televised address, he accused Washington of orchestrating a campaign to overthrow his administration, describing the allegations as “fabricated lies” designed to justify foreign intervention.
The political standoff between the United States and Venezuela shows little sign of easing. Washington continues to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the country’s legitimate interim president, while Maduro retains control of state institutions, the military, and loyalist factions within the country. With the bounty now at an unprecedented level, analysts say the stakes have risen further in a dispute that blends geopolitics, law enforcement, and the shadowy world of international narcotics trafficking.
