The reward offered by the U.S. Department of Justice for Nicolás Maduro is the highest ever in U.S. history, at 50 million dollars, for his capture.
This amount is not only the highest ever offered by a sitting president, but it also underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the determination of the U.S. administration to act against what it considers a threat to regional security.
The previous highest reward was for Osama Bin Laden, the founder of Al Qaeda. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, they offered 25 million dollars for him.
The second highest reward was for the current leader of Al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, for whom they offer the same amount (25 million dollars).
And then came Nicolás Maduro, for whom they offered 15 million dollars, but this changed to 50 million dollars on August 7. Maduro is accused of drug trafficking, terrorism, and leading the Cartel of the Suns.
This record reward reflects the U.S. 'maximum pressure' policy and aims to incentivize internal and external actors to cooperate in his arrest. The unprecedented amount highlights the extraordinary importance that Washington places on this case, consolidating Maduro's image not only as a controversial political leader but also as a fugitive from international justice.
