The U.S. government has officially doubled the reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million. This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on August 7, 2025. The increase from the previous reward of $25 million reflects ongoing allegations against Maduro, who is accused of being one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world.

Bondi stated that Maduro is linked to various criminal organizations, including the Tren de Aragua gang and the Sinaloa Cartel. The U.S. Department of Justice has previously charged Maduro with drug trafficking and narco-terrorism, asserting that he has collaborated with Colombian rebel groups to facilitate drug smuggling into the United States.

In a video posted on social media, Bondi emphasized that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has seized approximately 30 tons of cocaine associated with Maduro and his associates, with nearly seven tons directly linked to him. The U.S. government has also reportedly confiscated over $700 million in assets connected to Maduro since September 2020.

The Venezuelan government has responded to the increased reward by labeling it as a form of political propaganda. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil described the move as 'pathetic' and a 'ridiculous smokescreen' aimed at distracting from domestic issues in the U.S.

Relations between the U.S. and Venezuela have been tense since Maduro's election victory in 2018, which the U.S. and many other countries did not recognize due to allegations of vote-rigging. The U.S. has imposed sanctions and an oil embargo against Venezuela in response to the government's actions and human rights violations.

Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, faces significant opposition within Venezuela and has been accused of repressing dissent and opposition groups. The U.S. government’s renewed efforts to capture him reflect ongoing concerns about his administration's ties to drug trafficking and organized crime.