Washington, D.C., July 30, 2025 — In a sweeping announcement, the U.S. Department of State formally declared Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, along with two of his closest allies, Diosdado Cabello Rondón, the country’s interior minister and former national assembly speaker, and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López wanted on charges of drug trafficking and narco‑terrorism.
As part of this move, combined rewards worth $65 million have been offered: $25 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest or conviction, another $25 million for Cabello, and $15 million for Padrino López .
The U.S. identifies the trio as senior leaders of the Cartel de los Soles (“Cartel of the Suns”), a narcotics network alleged to be embedded within the Venezuelan state, trafficked in cocaine and facilitated by top government and military figures.
According to Washington, the cartel has long used cocaine as a deliberate instrument to destabilize American communities and finance illicit operations across Latin America, in partnership with the Colombian rebel group FARC during the period from 1999 through about 2020.
The newly issued U.S. statement underscores that these charges include narco‑terrorism conspiracy, organized drug importation, and conspiracy to use firearms and destructive devices in the furtherance of drug crimes.
The designation comes just one day after Maduro marked the one‑year anniversary of his controversial re‑election in July 2024, a result widely denounced by the U.S. and its allies as fraudulent.
Washington continues to refuse recognition of Maduro’s presidency, casting strong doubt on the legitimacy of his regime while intensifying sanctions and legal measures against key members of his government.
This development builds on earlier U.S. legal actions dating back to March 2020, when Maduro, Cabello, and several senior Venezuelan officials were indicted in U.S. federal court on narco‑terrorism and drug trafficking charges.
At the time, the U.S. government first offered rewards, initially $15 million for Maduro, and $10 million each for Cabello, Padrino López, and others, but has since significantly increased them to reflect the escalating pressure on the Maduro administration.
The latest action also formally places the Cartel de los Soles on the U.S. terrorism‑linked group watchlist, enabling new restrictions and enforcement powers.
Former Venezuelan intelligence chief Hugo Carvajal (“El Pollo”), who played a central role in the network and defected, pleaded guilty in June 2025 to narco‑terrorism and drug trafficking charges in Manhattan federal court, amplifying U.S. pressure on Maduro’s regime and potentially providing critical intelligence on the cartel’s internal operations.
Nicolás Maduro, president of Venezuela since 2013, is accused of overseeing a state‑protected drug trafficking network with deep ties to the military and the judiciary.
Diosdado Cabello, once the country’s second most powerful political figure, is alleged to have coordinated cartel activities and enriched himself through illicit trade.
Vladimir Padrino López, as Defense Minister, is accused of facilitating military protection and logistical support for cocaine shipments.
The Cartel de los Soles is described by U.S. authorities as a transnational, heavily institutionalized group that trafficked hundreds of tons of cocaine into the U.S., using military-grade logistics and armed militias in coordination with FARC.
The U.S. action marks one of the rare instances of direct legal targeting of a sitting head of state.
It signals an intensifying U.S. strategy to secure cooperation in dismantling narcotics networks tied to authoritarian regimes.
The high-profile indictments and reward offers aim to undercut Maduro’s support system amidst ongoing economic collapse and political isolation in Venezuela.
As investigations continue and international pressure mounts, Washington’s declaration today represents a critical escalation in what it calls the pursuit of justice against one of Latin America’s most powerful and embattled regimes.
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