The US Department of State and the Department of Justice to give reward Up to $50 Million for Information Leading to Arrest of Maduro

President Donald Trump is making good on his promise to hold Venezuela’s dictator, Nicholas Maduro accountable for his crimes.
The Department of State and the Department of Justice have increased to $50 million the reward offered under the Narcotics Rewards Program for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Nicolás Maduro for violating U.S. narcotics laws.

For over a decade, Maduro has been a leader of Cartel de los Soles, which is responsible for trafficking drugs into the United States. On July 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Cartel de Los Soles as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

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“Since 2020, Maduro has strangled democracy and grasped at power in Venezuela,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a press statement on August 7. “Maduro claimed to have won Venezuela’s July 28, 2024, presidential election but failed to present any evidence that he had prevailed. The United States has refused to recognize Maduro as the winner of 2024 election and does not recognize him as the President of Venezuela.”

Significant human rights issues in Maduro’s Venezuela include credible reports of unlawful or arbitrary killings; enforced disappearance; torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by security forces; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions and arbitrary arrest or detention by security forces.

There are serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom in Venezuela, including violence or threats of violence against journalists, unjustified arrests or prosecutions of journalists, censorship and substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association.

Venezuelans are denied the ability to change their government peacefully through free and fair elections.
In Maduro’s Venezuela there is serious government corruption and harassment of domestic and international human rights organizations.
Representatives of the Maduro regime have not taken credible steps or action to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses.

There have been reports of nonstate armed groups and criminal gangs engaged in violence, human trafficking, child recruitment, exploitation of Indigenous communities, and sexual abuse.

The U.S. reward offer is a key pillar of President Trump’s “America First” priorities. Those who have information on Maduro’s criminal activities are urged to contact the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency by phone (voice, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, or text) at +1-202-681-8187, or by email. Or visit the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, in a video release, called Maduro "one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world and a threat to our national security."
"Under President Donald Trump's leadership,” she said,” Maduro will not escape justice, and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes."

[VOA/VS]

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