What to Know About Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Facing a $50M U.S. Bounty Over Narco-Terrorism Charges

What We Know

The United States has intensified its effort to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, unveiling a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest. The announcement came Thursday from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in a video posted to X, where she accused Maduro of being “one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world and a threat to our national security,” as quoted by Pam Bondi.

According to the Justice Department, Maduro is the alleged leader of the Cartel de los Soles, a Venezuelan drug-trafficking network comprised of senior military and political figures. He is accused of collaborating with criminal and terrorist groups, including Tren de Aragua, the FARC, and Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, to traffic cocaine — often laced with fentanyl — into the United States.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has reportedly seized more than 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his associates, with nearly 7 tons directly tied to him. Authorities say over $700 million in assets, from private jets to luxury vehicles, have been confiscated as part of the investigation.

What They’re Saying

Bondi said the reward, previously $25 million, was doubled due to Maduro’s “continued defiance of international law” and his alleged role in fueling the U.S. opioid crisis. “Maduro uses foreign terrorist organizations to bring deadly drugs and violence into our country,” she said.

Today, @TheJusticeDept and @StateDept are announcing a $50 MILLION REWARD for information leading to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro. pic.twitter.com/D8LNqjS9yk

— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) August 7, 2025

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the administration’s position that “Maduro is not the President of Venezuela and his regime is not the legitimate government,” as quoted by Fox News. The U.S. continues to reject the results of Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election, citing allegations of fraud and suppression of opposition candidates.

What’s Next

The Justice Department and State Department are urging anyone with credible information about Maduro’s whereabouts to contact the DEA at CartelSolesTips@usdoj.gov or call (202) 307-4228. U.S. officials say the bounty reflects a heightened priority to bring Maduro to justice, citing the scale of drug trafficking and its impact on American communities.

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