The United States has officially designated Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as a wanted individual, accusing him and two of his closest allies of serious drug trafficking crimes. In a significant escalation of pressure, U.S. authorities are offering a total of $65 million in rewards for their capture and conviction.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the U.S. Department of State, Maduro, along with high-ranking officials Diosdado Cabello Rondón and Vladimir Padrino López, are identified as central figures in the Cartel de los Soles. This criminal organization has recently been designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. Treasury due to its alleged involvement in international narcotics operations.
President Maduro is now subject to a $25 million bounty, matching the reward for Cabello, while Padrino faces a $15 million bounty. These figures reflect the severity of the allegations and the level of interest the U.S. has in dismantling the cartel’s operations.
Authorities accuse the cartel of coordinating large-scale shipments of illegal narcotics, particularly cocaine, into the United States. The group is also suspected of collaborating with foreign criminal networks and using government infrastructure to facilitate its operations.
A newly released wanted poster describes Nicolás Maduro as a “designated global terrorist,” outlining several criminal charges including narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import controlled substances, and trafficking of illegal weapons. The U.S. government has signaled that it views his leadership as central to these activities.
This announcement came just one day after Maduro celebrated the anniversary of his controversial re-election—a vote widely dismissed by Western governments as illegitimate and marred by fraud. The timing of the U.S. declaration appears to reinforce its refusal to recognize Maduro's presidency.
The United States continues to enforce strict sanctions against Maduro’s regime, aiming to isolate the Venezuelan government both politically and economically. These sanctions target state-owned companies, financial institutions, and individuals accused of human rights abuses and corruption.
In a parallel move, the United Kingdom has imposed its own sanctions against 15 senior Venezuelan officials. These include top judges, military officers, and members of the intelligence community believed to support Maduro’s grip on power and repress political opposition.
SEE POST:
