US places USD 25 million bounty on Nicolas Maduro, others

WASHINGTON – The United States of American has placed USD25 million on Nicolas Maduro Moros, President of Venezuela and a host of for hints that could lead to their arrest and prosecution.

Others on the list are Diosdado Cabello Rondón, President of the National Constituent Assembly, General (retired) Hugo Carvajal Barrios, former Director of Venezuela’s military intelligence (DGCOM); Clíver Alcalá Cordones, Major General (retired) in Venezuela’s Army; and Tareck Zaidan El Aissami Maddah, Minister for Industry and National Production. 

In a statement, Secretary of State noted that while holding key positions in the Nicolas Maduro regime, these individuals violated the public trust by facilitating shipments of narcotics from Venezuela, including control over planes that leave from a Venezuelan air base, as well as control of drug routes through the ports in Venezuela.

Specifically, the Department of State is offering a reward of up to USD 15 million for information on Nicolás Maduro Moros and USD 10 million each for information on others listed beside Maduro.

These rewards are offered under the Department of State’s Narcotics Rewards Program (NRP).  More than 75 major narcotics traffickers have been brought to justice under the NRP since it began in 1986. 

The Department has paid more than $130 million in rewards for information leading to those apprehensions.The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs manages the NRP in close coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security Investigations (ICE/HSI), and other U.S. government agencies. 

“These actions demonstrate the Department’s commitment to supporting law enforcement efforts and a whole of government approach to combatting drug trafficking and transnational organized crime”, Secretary of State, Michael R. Pompeo has said.

According to Mike Pompeo, the Venezuelan people deserve a transparent, responsible, representative government that serves the needs of the people – and that does not betray the trust of the people by condoning or employing public officials that engage in illicit narcotics trafficking.  

“The United States is committed to helping the Venezuelan people restore their democracy through free and fair presidential elections that will provide them with honest and competent national leadership”, he said.