A foreign leader accused of sending massive quantities of cocaine into the United States — and tied to some of the world’s most dangerous cartels — is now at the center of the largest bounty ever placed by the U.S.
In the background, intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and political opponents are working to locate Nicolás Maduro, even as he tightens his hold on a nation in crisis. The prize: fifty million dollars, an alleged empire fueled by drugs and corruption, and Venezuela’s uncertain future.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled an unprecedented $50 million reward for information leading to the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, accusing him of fueling narcotics trafficking and terrorism that bring “deadly violence” into American communities.
On Thursday, August 7, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Trump administration had doubled the existing bounty, making it the largest ever offered by Washington for a foreign head of state, according to CBS News. Bondi claimed that Maduro, who has ruled since 2013, is a major figure in a global cocaine network connected to violent criminal organizations, including Venezuela’s Cartel of the Suns, Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, and the Tren de Aragua gang.
“Maduro works alongside foreign terrorist organizations to push lethal drugs and violence into our nation,” Bondi said in a recorded statement. She reported that the DEA recently seized 30 tons of cocaine tied to his network, with nearly 7 tons allegedly linked directly to him. Bondi also warned that much of the cocaine was “often mixed with fentanyl,” the synthetic opioid blamed for tens of thousands of deaths across the U.S.
Bondi further revealed that American authorities have confiscated more than $700 million in assets tied to Maduro, including two private jets and nine luxury vehicles. “Maduro’s reign of terror persists,” she said, labeling him “one of the largest drug traffickers on the planet” and a grave threat to U.S. national security.
Maduro was first charged in March 2020 in New York with narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and possession of military-grade weapons. At the time, the Trump administration posted a $15 million reward for his arrest. Under President Joe Biden, the offer rose to $25 million, and Trump has now doubled it again, Al Jazeera reports.
The escalation comes after years of political unrest in Venezuela. Maduro’s government has faced accusations of election fraud, widespread human rights abuses, and systemic corruption. His 2018 re-election was rejected by the opposition, with the National Assembly recognizing Juan Guaidó as interim president — a move Trump supported, later inviting Guaidó to the White House.
In the disputed 2024 election, Venezuelan authorities again declared Maduro the winner, though opposition leaders allege that former diplomat Edmundo González actually won by a wide margin. Both González and Guaidó have since left the country after Maduro issued arrest orders for them.
“Maduro is not the legitimate president of Venezuela,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared last month. “His regime does not represent the lawful government.”
U.S. officials are urging anyone with reliable information about Maduro’s location to call 1-202-307-4228 or submit tips online.
Conclusion
The $50 million reward represents the most aggressive U.S. action yet against Nicolás Maduro, underscoring years of growing tensions, criminal accusations, and disputed elections. While Washington rejects Maduro’s legitimacy and accuses him of orchestrating a vast drug-trafficking operation, the Venezuelan leader remains in power — resisting charges, sanctions, and mounting international pressure. Whether this historic bounty will lead to his capture is still uncertain.