The United States government has escalated its campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, declaring him wanted for drug trafficking and offering a $25 million reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
The announcement, made by the U.S. Department of State, also targets two of Maduro’s close allies, Diosdado Cabello Rondón and Vladimir Padrino López, with rewards of $25 million and $15 million, respectively, for their alleged roles in the Cartel de los Soles, a Venezuelan drug-trafficking organization recently designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. Treasury Department.
The U.S. accuses Maduro, who has led Venezuela since 2013, of orchestrating a narco-terrorism conspiracy involving the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a designated terrorist organization.
According to a 2020 indictment from the Southern District of New York, Maduro coordinated multi-ton cocaine shipments, provided military-grade weapons to FARC, and trained an unsanctioned militia to serve as an armed wing of the cartel.
“Maduro has deliberately deployed cocaine as a weapon to undermine the health and well-being of Americans,” a senior U.S. official said, describing the $25 million bounty as a reflection of “the gravity of his crimes and the continued threat he poses.”
The bounty, an increase from a previous $15 million set in 2020, coincides with heightened tensions following Maduro’s controversial re-election on July 28, 2024, which the U.S. and many allies, including the European Parliament, have branded as fraudulent.
The U.S. recognizes opposition candidate Edmundo González, now exiled in Spain, as Venezuela’s legitimate president-elect, citing evidence of vote tallies showing González’s victory.
The Biden administration’s move is part of a broader strategy to pressure Maduro’s regime, including new sanctions on eight Venezuelan officials and extended protections for 600,000 Venezuelan migrants in the U.S.
Maduro’s government has dismissed the allegations as “geopolitical theater,” with Venezuelan authorities issuing a $100,000 reward for González’s capture.
The regime, backed by allies like Russia, China, and Iran, remains defiant amid growing international isolation. The U.K. and EU have also imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials for undermining democracy and human rights, further tightening the noose around Maduro’s inner circle.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com