The United States has officially placed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and two top officials on its most-wanted list for drug trafficking, announcing a total reward of $65 million for their arrest and conviction.
In a statement released Tuesday, the U.S. Department of State accused Maduro, Diosdado Cabello Rondón, and Vladimir Padrino López of leading the Cartel de los Soles, which has now been labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. Treasury.
Maduro and Cabello each carry a $25 million bounty, while Padrino has a $15 million reward on his head. The cartel allegedly traffics significant volumes of narcotics into the United States.
A wanted notice refers to Maduro as a “designated global terrorist”, citing serious charges including narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons violations.
This move follows the anniversary of Maduro’s contested re-election. The U.S. has consistently refused to acknowledge his presidency and has maintained sanctions against his administration.
In support of similar efforts, the UK government has also sanctioned 15 high-ranking Venezuelan officials, including judges, military figures, and security personnel aligned with Maduro’s regime.
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