Securing Timely Opportunities for Payment and Maximizing Awards for Detaining Unlawful Regime Officials Act of 2025 or the STOP MADURO ActThis bill authorizes the Department of State to pay a reward of up to $100 million for certain information directly leading to the arrest and conviction of Nicolas Maduro Moros.For example, under the bill, the State Department may pay such a reward to one or more individuals who furnish information directly leading to Maduro's arrest and conviction in any country for specified narcotics-related offenses.The bill also requires that any such payment come solely from the liquidation of assets that the U.S. President or the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control has withheld pursuant to specified laws and executive orders from Maduro, officials of the Maduro regime, and their co-conspirators.
The bill's implementation is expected to significantly bolster U.S. enforcement actions against Maduro and his associates by incentivizing individuals to provide information related to their criminal activities. With the potential payout of such a large reward, it could encourage cooperation from those within Venezuela or linked to the regime, thereby enhancing the U.S. government's ability to address narco-terrorism. Additionally, the act underscores the U.S. commitment to holding Maduro accountable for the allegations of involvement in serious drug trafficking operations that have implications for U.S. national security.
SB39, known as the Securing Timely Opportunities for Payment and Maximizing Awards for Detaining Unlawful Regime Officials Act of 2025 or the STOP MADURO Act, proposes to increase the maximum reward amount for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Venezuela's leader, Nicolás Maduro Moros, to $100 million. The bill is framed within the context of ongoing efforts by the U.S. government to combat drug trafficking and corruption associated with Maduro's regime, particularly focusing on the allegations of narco-terrorism. Under this act, the Secretary of State would be authorized to pay these rewards funded exclusively through the liquidation of assets belonging to Maduro and his officials that are already being withheld by U.S. authorities due to sanctions.
While the act aims to combat significant drug-related crimes, it may face criticism regarding its efficacy and potential consequences for diplomatic relations with Venezuela. Opponents might argue that increasing the bounty on Maduro could escalate tensions and provoke retaliatory actions by his government, potentially endangering diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving ongoing conflicts. Furthermore, the use of such monetary rewards raises ethical questions about incentivizing informants in potentially unstable regions, highlighting the complexity of U.S. foreign policy in dealing with sanctioned regimes.