The U.S. ups its bounty on Nicolás Maduro to $50 million, accusing him of running narco-trafficking networks
In a stunning escalation, the U.S. government has doubled the reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuela’s embattled President, Nicolás Maduro, now offering $50 million. The announcement, made by Attorney General Pam Bondi, placed Maduro among the most wanted globally, accusing him of leading one of the world’s largest narco-trafficking operations.
Bondi, in a brief video statement, thundered: “Under President Trump’s leadership, Maduro will not escape justice and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes.” The move represents the latest step in a long-running legal effort; Maduro was first indicted in 2020 on federal drug charges, and the U.S. previously offered a $15 million bounty during Trump’s first term. The Biden administration doubled that in 2025 to $25 million—and now, the number has surged to $50 million.
The Times report that the U.S. Justice Department has seized more than $700 million in assets tied to Maduro, ranging from private jets to luxury vehicles. Authorities also claim nearly seven tonnes of cocaine have been traced directly back to him. Those unsealed charges accused him of conspiring to import fentanyl-laced cocaine into the U.S. via alliances with cartels like Tren de Aragua, Cartel de los Soles, and Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel.
Embed from Getty ImagesDespite this dramatic escalation, Maduro remains firmly ensconced in power, having secured a disputed third term in the 2024 presidential election—a vote the U.S. and other key international players declared fraudulent, recognising opposition leader Edmundo González as the rightful winner.
Groups releasing Americans imprisoned in Caracas last month brokered a fraught agreement: Washington would free migrants deported under the Trump-era immigration crackdown in exchange. In another seeming flip-flop, the U.S. shortly afterward permitted Chevron to resume oil production in Venezuela—reversing prior sanctions.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil blasted the reward as a “pathetic political propaganda operation,” accusing Bondi of orchestrating “the most ridiculous smokescreen ever seen.” He compared the move to distractions over Jeffrey Epstein’s long-debated client list and declared, “The dignity of our homeland is not for sale.”
As the dust settles, the U.S. continues to intensify pressure on Maduro with unprecedented measures—yet the political fallout and global tension show no signs of abating.
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