Washington, D.C. — August 8, 2025 — In a bold escalation of U.S. pressure on the Maduro regime, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced today that the Departments of Justice and State have raised the reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million, doubling the previous offer of $25 million.
Bondi slammed Maduro as "one of the world's largest narco‑traffickers," accusing him of orchestrating shipments of fentanyl-laced cocaine into the United States and working with notorious criminal groups such as Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel, and the Cartel de los Soles. The U.S. has also seized more than $700 million in assets tied to Maduro, including private jets and luxury vehicles, and traced nearly 7 tons of cocaine directly to his network.
The initiative marks the most lucrative bounty ever announced for a sitting head of state. It follows a string of legal actions: Maduro was indicted in 2020 on charges of narco‑terrorism and cocaine importation. The Biden administration had raised the reward from $15 million to $25 million earlier this year.
Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yván Gil dismissed the reward as a "pathetic" political stunt, accusing the U.S. of staging a propaganda spectacle.
Analysts say the increased bounty signals a more aggressive U.S. strategy, prioritizing intelligence and rewards over traditional sanctions. Whether it will yield results remains to be seen—but the message is clear: the U.S. is determined to bring Maduro to justice.
