U.S. declares Venezuela’s president, 2 allies wanted for drug trafficking

The United States government has declared Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro wanted for alleged drug trafficking.

The U.S. government also declared two of the president’s close allies, Diosdado Cabello Rondon and Vladimir Padrino Lopez, wanted for the alleged offence.

The U.S. Department of State, a statement issued on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, announced a combined reward of $65 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the three Venezuelan officials.

A reward of $25 million was placed on President Maduro, while Cabello and Padrino carry rewards of $25 million and $15 million, respectively.

The U.S. authorities accused the trio of being leaders of the Cartel de los Soles, which was recently designated a terrorist organisation by the U.S. Treasury Department.

The Department of State stated that the cartel was responsible for trafficking drugs into the United States.

Starmer: UK’ll recognise Palestinian state in September if…

The department said: “The United States just sanctioned Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist group. Run by the corrupt and contemptible Nicolas Maduro, it is responsible for trafficking drugs into the U.S.

“Help us take down Maduro and his cronies Diosdado Cabello Rondón & Vladimir Padrino López!”

A wanted poster issued by the U.S. described President Maduro as a “designated global terrorist cartel de los soles leader”, and outlines charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and conspiracy to use and carry machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of a drug crime.

The announcement comes a day after Maduro marked the one-year anniversary of his re-election – a vote the U.S. and its allies have described as fraudulent.

The United States has long refused to recognise Maduro’s government and has imposed multiple sanctions targeting Venezuela’s political and economic leadership.

The Star