The United States has historically raised the reward offered for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Nicolás Maduro, president of Venezuela, setting the amount at 50 million dollars. The announcement was made on August 7, 2025, by Attorney General Pam Bondi, in coordination with the State Department, in what is considered one of the highest offers in recent history against a sitting political leader.
According to U.S. authorities, this decision responds to new evidence and the continuation of accusations against Maduro for alleged crimes of drug trafficking, corruption, and human rights violations. The U.S. government maintains that the Venezuelan leader is part of a transnational criminal network that has facilitated the shipment of tons of cocaine to the United States, in addition to being linked to money laundering operations and the use of state resources to maintain his grip on power.
The reward is part of the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program, which offers financial compensation to those who provide verified and useful information that directly leads to the capture of individuals wanted by justice. This new amount doubles the previous reward of 25 million dollars set in January 2025, which had already replaced the original sum of 15 million offered since 2020.
U.S. authorities stressed that anyone with relevant information can communicate confidentially and securely through the official State Department channels. The increase in the reward has generated a strong political and media impact, especially in Latin America, where analysts believe this move intensifies international pressure on the Maduro government and could influence the political balance in the region.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan president has not made direct statements about this new announcement, although spokespersons for his administration have described the measure as part of a “political war” led by Washington against Caracas.
