US Doubles $50M Bounty on Venezuelan Leader Maduro for Drug Trafficking

President Donald Trump's administration has doubled the bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million, accusing him of being one of the world's largest narco-traffickers and a threat to U.S. national security. Attorney General Pam Bondi alleged Maduro's involvement with criminal organizations such as Tren de Aragua, Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, and Venezuela’s Cartel of the Suns, and highlighted the seizure of over 30 tons of cocaine linked to him, much of which is laced with fentanyl. The U.S. has also seized over $700 million in assets connected to Maduro, including private jets and vehicles. Despite these efforts, Maduro remains in power with strong military support, leading critics to doubt the effectiveness of the bounty in dislodging his regime. Venezuela has dismissed the bounty as propaganda linked to U.S. political scandals, while opposition leaders call for further international action. This escalation marks the highest U.S. reward ever offered for a foreign leader and reflects ongoing tensions between Washington and Caracas.