The United States government has officially declared Venezuela’s sitting president, Nicolás Maduro, wanted over alleged involvement in drug trafficking activities.
Alongside Maduro, two top Venezuelan officials—Diosdado Cabello Rondón and Vladimir Padrino López—have also been named in the declaration. The U.S. Department of State announced a combined reward package of $65 million for credible information leading to the arrest and conviction of the trio.
President Maduro and Cabello each carry a $25 million reward, while Padrino is tagged with a $15 million bounty.
According to U.S. authorities, the three men are accused of heading and facilitating operations of the Cartel de los Soles, a group recently designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. Treasury. The cartel is allegedly responsible for large-scale transportation of illegal narcotics into the United States.
A wanted notice issued by the U.S. government described President Maduro as a global terrorist, with charges ranging from conspiracy to traffic cocaine, narco-terrorism, to illegal use of heavy weapons in drug operations.
This declaration comes shortly after President Maduro marked the anniversary of his controversial re-election, a vote the U.S. and several allies have long denounced as illegitimate. Washington has consistently refused to recognize Maduro’s presidency and has imposed stringent sanctions on Venezuela’s political and military elite.
