• US doubles reward for Nicolas Maduro's arrest to $50 million over drug trafficking allegations.
• Maduro accused of collaborating with drug cartels, including the Sinaloa and Tren de Aragua.
• $700 million in assets linked to Maduro have been seized, including narcotics.

The United States has announced a significant increase in the reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, now set at $50 million, up from an earlier $25 million. This move was confirmed by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who emphasized that Maduro is considered "one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world," alleging that he has significantly contributed to drug trafficking operations threatening U.S. national security, according to Newsweek and Reuters.

In a video announcement, Bondi stated that Maduro collaborates with criminal organizations such as the Tren de Aragua gang and the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, further alleging that these groups are integral to his drug trafficking operations. This escalation in the bounty is part of the U.S. government's ongoing efforts to hold Maduro accountable for flooding the U.S. with fentanyl-laced cocaine, according to India Times, BBC, and Al Jazeera.

According to estimates, the U.S. Department of Justice has seized over $700 million in assets tied to Maduro's regime, which includes two private jets and numerous vehicles. The U.S. has also claimed that nearly seven tons of cocaine have been linked directly to Maduro's operations, highlighting the extensive drug trafficking network he allegedly manages, as per reports from SCMP, TRTGlobal, and Africanews.

The Venezuelan government swiftly condemned the U.S. announcement. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil called the reward "pathetic" and a distraction from domestic issues in the U.S. Gil’s comments reflected a broader narrative from Caracas that decries U.S. involvement in Venezuela's internal affairs, stating, "The dignity of our homeland is not for sale," according to Los Angeles Times and Anadolu Agency.