The United States has declared Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro wanted for dr¥g trafficking, offering a $25 million reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Two top allies, Diosdado Cabello Rondón and Vladimir Padrino López, are also wanted, with $25 million and $15 million bounties placed on them, respectively.
The U.S. Department of State, in a Tuesday statement, accused the trio of leading the Cartel de los Soles, recently designated a terrarist group by the U.S. Treasury. The cartel is allegedly responsible for smuggling massive amounts of cocaine into the United States.
“Run by the corrupt and contemptible Nicolás Maduro, it is responsible for trafficking drugs into the U.S.,” the Treasury said. A wanted poster describes Maduro as a “designated global terrorist cartel leader” charged with narco-terrorist conspiracy, cocaine importation, and use of destructive weapons in a drug crime.
The timing of the announcement coincides with the anniversary of Maduro’s controversial re-election, which the U.S. and allies called fraudulent. The U.S. does not recognise Maduro’s regime and has imposed numerous sanctions on Venezuelan leadership.
In January, similar rewards were offered as Maduro began his third term. The UK also imposed sanctions on 15 top Venezuelan officials, including judges and military leaders.
The U.S. now seeks public help to apprehend Maduro and his associates, escalating international pressure on Venezuela’s embattled leadership.
