US Keeps $25 Million Bounty on Cabello After Clearing Venezuela on Drugs
Key Facts
Since Nicolás Maduro’s arrest in January, Washington has been rebuilding ties with the interim government in Caracas. It now says that thaw does not extend to one of Venezuela’s most powerful officials.
The US State Department told NTN24 on 17 September that reward offers for alleged Cartel de los Soles members remain active. That includes up to $25 million for Diosdado Cabello, Venezuela’s interior minister, El Colombiano reported on 18 September.
Why This Matters
Each September, the US president lists major drug-producing or transit countries and flags those that failed to cooperate. A failing label can cut most US aid and bring US opposition to multilateral loans for that country.
The president signed the determination for fiscal year 2027 on 11 September, and it was released on 16 September. It removed Venezuela from the failing list, which still names Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma and Colombia.
The State Department cited positive steps under the interim presidency of Delcy Rodríguez after Maduro’s arrest on 3 January. El Espectador, a Colombian daily, called it the first such certification of Venezuela in 21 years.
What Washington Said About Cabello
“Our assessment of the Cartel de los Soles has not changed and the reward offers remain in effect,” the department told NTN24. El Colombiano reported the department’s view that state cooperation does not cancel investigations against specific officials.
The US first offered up to $10 million for Cabello in March 2020 and raised it to $25 million in January 2025. He faces US charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation and weapons offences, according to El Colombiano.
Washington also keeps a reward of up to $15 million for former defence minister Vladimir Padrino López. Neither man has been tried, and the charges remain allegations.
A Split Message to Caracas
The two decisions send different signals, one to the Venezuelan state and one to named officials. Certification rewards the interim government for cooperation, while the rewards keep pressure on alleged cartel leaders.
Cabello still serves as interior minister, one of the most senior security posts in Caracas. Washington thus certifies a government in which a man it wants arrested holds high office.
El Espectador quoted analysts who said the certification rested on politics rather than on drug data. Colombia, a long-standing US partner on drugs, stayed decertified, though a waiver keeps US aid flowing.
What Is Not Yet Known
The State Department has not said whether Cabello’s role in the interim government affects its talks with Caracas. It is also unclear whether Venezuela’s new status will change how Washington pursues the Cartel de los Soles case.
The reports reviewed carried no comment from Cabello on the reward statement. It is not known whether interim president Delcy Rodríguez will keep him in his post.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the US certify Venezuela on drugs?
The State Department cited positive steps under interim president Delcy Rodríguez since Maduro’s arrest in January. It removed Venezuela from the list of countries that failed demonstrably.
Is the reward for Diosdado Cabello still active?
Yes. The State Department says its offers for alleged Cartel de los Soles members stand, including up to $25 million for Cabello.
Sources: El Colombiano, US keeps reward for Cabello, NTN24, State Department statement on rewards, Federal Register, FY2027 presidential determination text, The Rio Times, Colombia decertified and the waiver, El Espectador, why Venezuela and not Colombia, US State Department, FY2027 presidential determination
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