[Breaking] U.S. Raises Bounty on Venezuelan President Maduro to $50 Million

Washington, August 9, 2025 — The U.S. Department of State announced on August 9 that it is increasing the bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from $25 million to $50 million, citing his “continued undermining of regional democracy and security.” The reward is part of the U.S. Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program, aimed at gathering information related to Maduro’s alleged corruption, money laundering, and drug trafficking.

The move is widely interpreted as a strong signal of U.S. pressure on the Maduro government. Analysts suggest the increased bounty could further strain U.S.-Venezuela relations and intensify confrontations between Venezuela and its regional allies.

Maduro has yet to issue an official response, but Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry has repeatedly denounced previous U.S. bounty measures as “political persecution” and “interference in internal affairs.”