The United States government has declared Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro and two senior officials, Diosdado Cabello Rondón and Vladimir Padrino López, wanted for alleged drug trafficking activities.
The U.S. Department of State released details of a reward package totaling $65 million for anyone who provides useful information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the three men.
President Maduro alone carries a $25 million reward, the same amount placed on Cabello, while Padrino carries a $15 million tag.
U.S. authorities accused the Venezuelan leaders of controlling a group known as the Cartel de los Soles, which the U.S. Treasury recently labelled a terrorist organisation.
The group is said to be responsible for transporting illegal drugs into American territory.
A wanted notice from the U.S. government described President Maduro as a global terrorist and listed multiple criminal charges against him.
These include conspiracy to traffic cocaine, narco-terrorism, and the illegal use of heavy weapons in drug operations.
The declaration was made just a day after Maduro marked the anniversary of his re-election, a vote the U.S. and several of its partners have long rejected as illegitimate.
Over the years, Washington has refused to recognise Maduro’s government and has continued to impose sanctions on Venezuela’s top political and military figures.
