The Trump administration on Thursday doubled the U.S. reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million, accusing him of being among the world's largest narcotraffickers and a direct threat to American security.
"Maduro uses foreign terrorist organizations like [Tren de Aragua], Sinaloa and Cartel of the Suns to bring deadly drugs and violence into our country," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a video posted on X. She added that "under President Trump's leadership, Maduro will not escape justice, and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes."
Bondi said the Drug Enforcement Administration has seized 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his associates, including "nearly seven tons linked to Maduro himself, which represents a primary source of income for the deadly cartels based in Venezuela and Mexico." She noted the cocaine is "often laced with fentanyl" and has caused "the loss and destruction of countless American lives."
The Justice Department has also seized more than $700 million in Maduro-linked assets, Bondi said, including two private jets and nine vehicles.
Maduro, 62, was indicted in March 2020 in the Southern District of New York on charges including narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices. At that time, the Trump administration offered a $15 million reward for his capture.
The Biden administration raised the bounty to $25 million in January 2023, matching the amount offered for Osama bin Laden in 2001. Thursday's announcement doubles that figure to $50 million.
Despite the escalating U.S. pressure, Maduro has remained in power after his contested 2024 reelection, which Washington, the European Union and several Latin American governments denounced as fraudulent. His office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Last month, the Trump administration negotiated the release of 10 Americans held in Caracas in exchange for returning Venezuelan migrants from U.S. detention to El Salvador. Soon after, the White House allowed Chevron to resume drilling in Venezuela despite ongoing sanctions.
