President Donald Trump's reported approval of military force against Latin American cartels designated as terrorist organizations by his administration could open the door to attacking Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro.
The report comes just two weeks after the administration designated the Venezuelan Cartel de los Soles to the list of global terrorist group, claiming that authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro and other high-ranking officials lead the cartel.
On Thursday, Bondi raised the reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million, saying he "will not escape justice and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes."
She also noted that the Justice Department has seized over $700 million in assets linked to Maduro, including private jets, and traced nearly 7 tons of cocaine directly to him.
Maduro was indicted in a 2020 Manhattan federal court on charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine, with an original $15 million U.S. bounty. The Biden administration later raised it to $25 million, matching the amount offered for Osama bin Laden's capture. Despite the high rewards and international condemnation of his 2024 reelection as illegitimate, Maduro remains in power.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil rejected the development, calling it "pathetic" and a "political propaganda operation."
"While we take down terrorist plots being organized in his country, this woman (Bondi) comes up with a media show to please the defeated far-right in Venezuela. We are not surprised, considering who it comes from. The same person who promised a non-existent 'secret list'," Gil added, a reference to the Jeffrey Epstein files.
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