The United States has dramatically escalated its pressure on Venezuela’s leadership, placing a combined $65 million reward on President Nicolás Maduro and two of his top-ranking officials over serious drug trafficking allegations.
In a statement released Tuesday, the U.S. Department of State announced a $25 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Maduro, who is accused of leading the “Cartel de los Soles”, a criminal organization the U.S now designates as a terrorist group.
Diosdado Cabello Rondón, the country’s powerful Interior Minister, also faces a $25 million bounty, while Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López has a $15 million reward on his head.
All three are accused of working together to facilitate the flow of cocaine into the United States.
“The Cartel de los Soles, operated by Maduro and his inner circle, has played a central role in transporting vast amounts of narcotics across our borders,” the U.S Treasury Department stated, underscoring the designation of the cartel as a terrorist entity.
According to U.S authorities, the charges against Maduro include narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and conspiracy to use and carry machine guns in support of a drug trafficking operation.
A “wanted” poster circulated by the State Department labels him a “designated global terrorist.”
The announcement coincides with the anniversary of Maduro’s controversial re-election, a vote widely condemned by the U.S. and many Western allies as rigged.
Washington has refused to acknowledge Maduro’s presidency and has implemented numerous rounds of sanctions targeting Venezuelan political and economic figures.
Earlier this year, on the day of Maduro’s third-term inauguration, the US had reiterated its position by renewing a similar bounty offer and calling for accountability.
Now, with the inclusion of Padrino López in the latest notice, the scope of U.S enforcement efforts appears to be widening.
The United Kingdom has also joined in targeting the Maduro regime, announcing sanctions on 15 senior Venezuelan officials, including judges and high-ranking military personnel.
The U.S continues to urge the international community to support efforts to dismantle what it calls a “corrupt and dangerous” regime enabling narcotics trafficking at the highest levels of government.
