• Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum denies US claims linking Maduro to the Sinaloa Cartel.
• The US has increased its reward for information on Maduro to $50 million.
• Sheinbaum states Mexico has no ongoing investigation into these allegations.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly dismissed allegations from the United States that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. She stated, “This is the first time we’ve heard about this issue. There is no investigation from Mexico related to it,” emphasizing that her government has no evidence supporting these claims. She urged the US to provide any proof they might have regarding these allegations if they exist, according to Al Jazeera, TRT Global, and Anadolu Agency.

The claims arose following the US government's announcement to double the reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest. This reward now stands at $50 million, a significant increase from the previous $25 million offered earlier this year. US Attorney General Pam Bondi labeled Maduro as “one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world,” linking him with various drug trafficking organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel and Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang, as noted by TRT Global and Anadolu Agency.

Venezuelan authorities have consistently denied US assertions linking Maduro to drug trafficking, calling such claims unfounded. The Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Yvan Gil, described the accusations as “the most ridiculous smokescreen ever seen,” echoing past statements rejecting US interference, according to Al Jazeera and Anadolu Agency.