US attacks on major cities like Maracaibo and Ciudad Guana, including the Venezuelan capital Caracas, have caused huge devastation. According to official figures, thousands of people have become homeless. Nicolas Maduro’s whereabouts remain a mystery, despite President Donald Trump warning Maduro to ‘surrender’ in a tweet. According to intelligence reports, they have either fled to Cuba or are hiding in a secret bunker.
Trump has claimed that Mudara and his wife are in his custody. Let us tell you that this coup is not an accidental incident. A confidential report of the American intelligence agency CIA, which has been leaked, states that the Trump administration had prepared the script of ‘Operation Liberty Venezuela’ in August 2025 itself. This included drone strikes targeting Maduro, support for local rebels, and an economic blockade. The perfect opportunity came on January 3, when a section of the Venezuelan army mutinied with American support. The United Nations and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have described this action as a ‘violation of international law’, but Trump termed it as ‘protecting democracy’.
Maduro has a bigger reward than Osama Bin Laden
The Trump administration declared Maduro a bigger threat than 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden and placed a bounty of $50 million (Rs 450 crore) on his head. This decision was taken by US Attorney General Pam Bondi in August 2025. He was accused of smuggling more than 7 tons of cocaine from Venezuela to the US in collaboration with Colombian drug cartels. This crime comes under ‘Narco-terrorism’.
In 2020, the Manhattan Federal Court of New York convicted him of conspiracy to import narco-terrorism and cocaine. Initially the reward was $15 million, which increased to $25 million during the Biden era. Trump doubled it to 50 million. The US Justice Department seized $700 million of Maduro’s assets, including two private jets and a luxury yacht. “Criminals like Maduro can no longer go unpunished under Trump,” Bondi said.
Reaction of the Venezuelan public and emigrants
The millions of Venezuelan immigrants living in Miami praised the reward. One protester, Carlos Rodriguez, said, “This proves that Maduro is not a president but a drug lord. We expect justice.” At the same time, Maduro supporters took to the streets in Venezuela. Foreign Minister Ivan Gill called the reward a ‘cheap political conspiracy’ and accused the US of ‘aggression’.