The administration of former United States President, Donald Trump, has announced the confiscation of over $700 million in assets allegedly tied to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, while also increasing the reward for information leading to his arrest to $50 million.
Pamela Bondi, a U.S. attorney general, disclosed the development in a video broadcast circulated on social media on Thursday.
She said the move was part of ongoing efforts to hold Maduro accountable for drug trafficking and ties to foreign terrorist organizations.
“Department of Justice and State Department are announcing a historic $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro,” she said.
“Maduro uses foreign terrorist organisations to bring deadly drugs and violence into our country. Today, the DEA has seized 30 tins of cocaine linked to Maduro and his associates,” Ms Bondi added.
Describing the Venezuelan leader as “one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world and a threat to U.S. national security,” she said the Trump administration had decided to double the bounty on Maduro.
“We doubled his reward to $50 million,” Bondi declared.
She further revealed that the seized assets include luxury items such as private jets and vehicles, with authorities determined to ensure accountability.
“Department of Justice had so far seized over $700 million of Maduro-linked assets, including two private jets, nine vehicles, and more,” Ms Bondi stated. “Under President Trump’s leadership, Maduro will not escape justice, and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes.”
The Venezuelan government, however, swiftly rejected the allegations. In a statement shared via Telegram, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil criticized Bondi’s announcement, dismissing it as an attempt to divert attention from scandals in the United States.
“It does not surprise us, coming from who it comes from. The same one who promised a non-existent ‘secret list’ of Epstein and who wallows in scandals of political favours,” Mr Gil said. “Her show is a joke, a desperate distraction from her own miseries. The dignity of our homeland is not for sale. We reject this crude political propaganda operation.”
This follows a previous U.S. declaration placing President Maduro and two close allies on its most-wanted list, with an initial $25 million reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
The U.S. government has refused to recognize Maduro’s presidency, citing alleged electoral fraud and has imposed multiple sanctions on Venezuela in recent years.
