The United States has increased its reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million, accusing him of being one of the world’s largest drug traffickers. This marks a significant escalation in the US government’s ongoing efforts to hold Maduro accountable for alleged ties to drug smuggling operations.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the reward increase, which comes after previous claims linking Maduro to narcotrafficking activities. Bondi specifically highlighted his alleged connections to the Sinaloa Cartel and Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan gang. According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 30 tons of cocaine seized from networks tied to Maduro include nearly 7 tons directly linked to him.

The move deepens the strain between the US and Venezuela, with Maduro and his government denying all charges. Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil dismissed the new reward as “pathetic,” suggesting it was a politically motivated attempt to distract from other issues in the US, including the handling of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s case.

This announcement follows a series of legal actions against Maduro and other high-ranking Venezuelan officials, including charges of corruption, drug trafficking, and narco-terrorism. Maduro’s government, which has faced international scrutiny over its controversial re-election in 2018, continues to face strong opposition both within Venezuela and from global powers like the US, the UK, and the European Union.

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