The United States announced on August 7 it had doubled its reward offer for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to $50 million as he stands accused of being a leader of Cartel de los Soles and working together with other cartels to flood the U.S. with fentanyl-laced cocaine.
Maduro was initially indicted in Manhattan federal court in 2020, during the first Trump presidency, along with several of his close allies, on charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine. At the time, the U.S. offered a $15 million reward for his arrest. That was later increased by the Biden administration to $25 million — the same amount Washington had offered for the capture of Osama bin Laden following the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Dealing with the devil — at least on some issues
Maduro remains well entrenched in Caracas after defying the U.S., the European Union and several Latin American governments who condemned his 2024 re-election as a sham and recognized his opponent as Venezuela’s duly elected president.
In July, the Trump administration struck a deal to secure the release of 10 Americans jailed in the capital, Caracas, in exchange for Venezuela receiving scores of migrants deported by the United States to El Salvador under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. The White House unexpectedly reversed course shortly thereafter and allowed American oil giant Chevron to resume drilling in Venezuela after it was previously blocked by U.S. sanctions.
U.S. announces higher reward
“Under President Trump’s leadership, Maduro will not escape justice, and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in an August 7 video announcing the new higher reward. Bondi further explained that the U.S. Justice Department has seized more than $700 million in assets linked to Maduro, including two private jets, and said seven tons of seized cocaine had been traced to the Venezuelan leader.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil released a statement characterizing the reward as “pathetic” and accusing Bondi of orchestrating a “crude political propaganda operation.”
Full text of reward announcement:
Reward Offer Increase of Up to $50 Million for Information Leading to Arrest and/or Conviction of Nicolás Maduro
“The Department of State and the Department of Justice are announcing a reward offer increase of up to $50 million under the Narcotics Rewards Program (NRP) 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 (SDGT).
Since 2020, Maduro has strangled democracy and grasped at power in Venezuela. 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.
Today’s reward offer is authorized by the Secretary under the NRP, which supports law enforcement efforts to disrupt transnational crime globally and bring fugitives to justice as a key pillar of President Trump’s “America First” priorities. If you have information, please contact the DEA by phone (voice, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, or text) at +1-202-681-8187, or by email. If you are located outside the United States, you may also visit the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are in the United States, you can also contact the local DEA field office.
ALL IDENTITIES ARE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. Government officials and employees are not eligible for rewards.”
August 7, 2025
Press Statement — U.S. Department of State