The United States has announced a record-breaking $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, doubling its previous offer and placing one of the highest bounties ever on a sitting world leader. Washington accuses Maduro of orchestrating a massive international drug trafficking operation that has funneled tons of cocaine — some reportedly laced with fentanyl — into the U.S., worsening the country’s opioid crisis. American officials allege that the Venezuelan leader has deep ties to the Cartel de los Soles, Colombian rebel factions, and Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, forming what they describe as a “global narco empire.” According to the U.S. Justice Department, recent operations have seized more than 30 tons of cocaine and over $700 million in assets linked to Maduro’s regime.
U.S. Attorney General officials have branded him a direct threat to national security, claiming his activities fuel addiction, violence, and political instability across the Americas. The $50 million bounty — equal to the amount once offered for terrorist leader Osama bin Laden — is the latest step in a long campaign of sanctions, indictments, and diplomatic pressure aimed at isolating Maduro’s government. While capturing a sitting president is a complex legal and political challenge, U.S. authorities hope the unprecedented reward will encourage insiders and foreign partners to share actionable intelligence. Maduro has strongly denied all allegations, dismissing them as “imperialist lies” and accusing Washington of attempting a “coup by bounty.” In a recent televised address, he vowed to resist foreign pressure and defend Venezuela’s sovereignty. With this record bounty now in place, Nicolás Maduro has become the most valuable political target in the Western Hemisphere, a development that could escalate tensions between Caracas and Washington in the months ahead.
