TRUMP administration has announced a $50million bounty on Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro who faces federal drug trafficking charges.
The Justice Department accused Maduro of leading a cocaine trafficking gang called “The Cartel of the Suns” that shipped hundreds of tons of narcotics into the US.
AlamyVenezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro[/caption]
AFPMaduro’s bounty has been raised to $50million[/caption]
Meduro has been dubbed ‘Putin’s man in south America’
Maduro, who has been dubebd “Vladimir Putin’s man in South America”, previous had a $25 million bountry set by the US in January.
But the reward in exhange for more infromation for the greedy dictator was doubled by the Trump administration.
Washington accuses the South American country’s leader of leading a cocaine trafficking gang.
The 62-year-old Maduro, a former bus driver and trade unionist, faces up to life in prison if he can be tried and is convicted.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said: “Today, the Department of Justice and State Department are announcing a historic $50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Nicolas Maduro.
“He is one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world and a threat to our national security.”
During Trump’s first term in the office, Maduro and other high-ranking Venezuelan officials were indicted in federal court in New York on several charges including participating in a “narco-terrorism” conspiracy.
Investigators say Maduro’s cartel worked hand-in-hand with the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which the US has labeled a terrorist organization.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) “has seized 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his associates, with nearly seven tons linked to Maduro himself,” Bondi said.
The US government has also seized more than $700 million in Maduro-linked assets, including two Venezuelan government aircraft, since September last year, according to Bondi.
“Yet Maduro’s reign of terror continues,” Bondi said.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, Maduro will not escape justice and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes.”
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said Bondi’s “pathetic” bounty was “the most ridiculous smokescreen we have ever seen.”
“The dignity of our homeland is not for sale. We reject this crude political propaganda operation,” Gil said on Telegram.
Maduro, a stern-faced 6ft3in socialist has ruled over the failing South American country that sits in America’s backyard for over a decade.
Clinging onto power through a series of rigged elections and assassination attempts, Maduro has driven his country into greater economic devastation and political instability.
GREEDY RULER
Elected by a narrow margin in March, 2013, Maduro has presided over the country for year as its problems skyrocket.
As his country suffered and starved, Maduro lived a life of luxury and reportedly racked up a fortune of £220million.
In 2018, he sparked outrage after being pictured enjoying a lavish meat banquet hosted by celebrity chef Salt Bae in Istanbul.
While Venezuelans can barely afford fresh meat, the president tucked into the infamous gold-crusted steaks.
“This is a once in a lifetime moment,” the president said as puffed on a cigar and ignored the widespread food shortage raging in his country.
YouTubeMaduro with the celebrity chef Salt Bae as he enjoyed a feast while his country starved in 2018[/caption]
Opposition leader Julio Borges, who fled Venezuela for fear of arrest, tweeted: “While Venezuelans suffer and die of hunger, Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores have a good time in one of the most expensive restaurants in the world, all with money stolen from the Venezuelan people.”
Only a few months earlier, his two stepsons Yoswal Gavidia Flores and Walter Gavidia Flores managed to blow £36,000 on an extravagant 18-night stay at the Ritz hotel in Paris.
The bill was equivalent to the monthly wages of 2,000 Venezuelans – a casual two weeks for the pair who frequently parade themselves around Europe’s most expensive restaurants and hotels.
And back at home, the president and his family can escape the chaos of their own making by hiding out in his luxury enclave in the capital, complete with its own bowling alley, swimming pools, lakes and restaurants.
Maduro and his so-called “dirty dozen” of top lieutenants live in fabulous estates which would not look out of place in the hills of Hollywood.
The five star bolthole is guarded by seven successive checkpoints and hundreds of heavily armed troops.
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