US Govt declares Venezuelan President, allies wanted for alleged drug trafficking, places $65m bounty
U.S. authorities have officially declared Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, along with his close associates Diosdado Cabello Rondón and Vladimir Padrino López, wanted on drug trafficking charges.
In a social media statement on Tuesday, the U.S. Department of State announced that Mr. Maduro and his allies are wanted, offering a combined reward of $65 million for any information leading to their arrest and conviction.
“@USTreasury just sanctioned Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist group. Run by the corrupt and contemptible Nicolás Maduro, it is responsible for trafficking drugs into the U.S.,” the department stated.
It further appealed, “Help us take down Maduro and his cronies Diosdado Cabello Rondón & Vladimir Padrino López!”
A wanted poster for Mr. Maduro describes him as a “designated global terrorist cartel de los soles leader” and promises $25 million to anyone providing “information leading to the arrest and/or conviction.”
According to the U.S., the Venezuelan leader faces charges of “narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, conspiracy to use and carry machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of a drug crime.”
Authorities also offered rewards of $25 million and $15 million, respectively, for information leading to the capture of his two accused associates.
This development comes just a day after Mr. Maduro celebrated the first anniversary of his most recent presidential election victory, which the U.S. and its allies have dismissed as fraudulent.
On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Mr. Maduro in a sharp post on X as Venezuela held municipal elections for hundreds of mayoral and thousands of council seats.
Earlier in March, Mr. Maduro had fired back at Mr. Rubio, labeling him an “imbecile.”
The U.S. continues to refuse recognition of Mr. Maduro’s government and has imposed a series of sanctions on Venezuela.