U.S. Offers $25M For Information Leading To Maduro’s Arrest

As Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro took the oath of office on Friday for a third six-year term, the United States announced an increased $25m reward for information leading to his arrest. $15m was the previous offer. Rewards are also available for information leading to the arrest and or conviction of Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and up to $15m for Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino. In addition, the United Kingdom issued sanctions on 15 top Venezuelan officials, including judges, members of the security forces, and military officials. The U.S., EU, and many neighboring countries have recognised the opposition candidate – Edmundo González– as president-elect and accused Maduro of fraud. In 2020, U.S. prosecutors charged the Venezuelan President with narco-terrorism, accusing him of backing a terrorist group in Colombia and facilitating cocaine shipments to the United States. However, Maduro denies the charges, which he has described as part of an effort to remove him from office violently. At his inauguration, Maduro declared that the Venezuelan people had defeated imperialism and its sly diplomacy and promised that his new term in office would be a “period of peace.” The article U.S. Offers $25M For Information Leading To Maduro’s Arrest is from St. Lucia Times.