The Trump administration has doubled the reward for Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro’s arrest, accusing him of leading a massive drug trafficking network.

US Increases Reward and Accusations

The Trump administration announced on Thursday that the bounty on Maduro is now $50 million. Officials accuse him of being one of the world’s largest narco-traffickers. They say he worked with cartels to send fentanyl-laced cocaine into the United States.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, in a video statement, said, “Under President Trump’s leadership, Maduro will not escape justice and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes.”

Past Indictment and Reward History

In 2020, during Trump’s first term, a Manhattan federal court indicted Maduro and several close allies. They faced charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine. At that time, the US offered $15 million for Maduro’s capture.

Later, the Biden administration increased the amount to $25 million. This matched the reward once offered for Osama bin Laden after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Maduro’s Grip on Power

Despite the growing bounty, Maduro remains in control. He has resisted pressure from the US, the European Union, and several Latin American countries. These governments called his 2024 reelection a sham and recognized his opponent as the rightful president.

Prisoner Swap and Oil Deal

Last month, the Trump administration made a deal to free 10 jailed Americans in Caracas. In return, the US sent back migrants to El Salvador under Trump’s immigration crackdown. Soon after, the White House allowed US oil company Chevron to restart drilling in Venezuela. This reversed a previous ban under US sanctions.

Assets and Drug Seizures

Bondi revealed that the Justice Department seized over $700 million in assets linked to Maduro. This included two private jets. She also said seven million tons of seized cocaine were traced directly to the Venezuelan leader.

Venezuela’s Response

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil dismissed the US announcement. He called the reward “pathetic” and accused Bondi of running a “crude political propaganda operation.”

Gil added, “We’re not surprised, coming from whom it comes from. The same one who promised a nonexistent ‘secret list’ of Epstein and who wallows in scandals for political favors.”

He also mocked Bondi’s credibility, saying, “Her show is a joke, a desperate distraction from her own misery.”