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The Organization of Venezuelans Persecuted Politically in Exile (VEPPEX) requested on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump activate legal and international mechanisms to capture Nicolás Maduro and Diosdado Cabello, who are accused of leading the Cartel of the Suns, recently declared a global terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
In an open letter, VEPPEX urged the Department of Justice to criminally pursue more than 400 Venezuelan officials allegedly involved in the criminal network, including Maduro himself and Cabello, the current Minister of the Interior of the Chavista regime.
"We request that high rewards be offered and intelligence operations launched to capture the heads of the cartel, whether alive or dead," stated José Antonio Colina, president of VEPPEX.
The request comes after the recent designation of the Cartel de los Soles as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organization (SDGT) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Washington accuses this cartel, led by Maduro and other high-ranking officials, of providing material support to international terrorist groups such as Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel, which are involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and money laundering.
"This step strikes hard against the narco-terrorism of Nicolás Maduro's regime, which is destroying Venezuela and threatening the entire region," VEPPEX stated in its letter.
Among the measures requested from the U.S. government, the organization proposes to freeze all assets and accounts of the Cartel of the Suns and its partners in Venezuela, Iran, and Cuba.
Furthermore, to pressure Europe and Latin America to also designate the cartel as a terrorist organization and to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to exiled Venezuelans, who could be impacted by the recent decision of the Supreme Court to authorize its revocation.
The DEA and the State Department continue to offer rewards ranging from 15 to 25 million dollars for information leading to the capture of Nicolás Maduro and Diosdado Cabello, who are accused of leading an international drug trafficking organization infiltrated in Venezuelan state institutions.
The VEPPEX request adds to the diplomatic and judicial pressure to dismantle the criminal networks linked to Chavismo and protect the Venezuelan diaspora, most of whom reside in the United States and other Latin American countries.
Frequently asked questions about the arrest request for Maduro and Cabello by Venezuelan exiles
What is the Cartel de los Soles and why has it been designated as a terrorist organization?
The Cartel of the Suns is a Venezuelan criminal organization allegedly led by Nicolás Maduro, Diosdado Cabello, and other high-ranking officials of the Chavista regime. It was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organization (SDGT) by the U.S. government due to its involvement in drug trafficking activities and support for international terrorist groups such as the Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel.
What actions did VEPPEX request from the Trump administration to confront the Maduro regime?
VEPPEX has requested Donald Trump to activate legal and international mechanisms to capture Nicolás Maduro and Diosdado Cabello. They are also asking for the assets of the Cartel of the Suns to be frozen, to offer rewards for information that leads to their capture, and to pressure Europe and Latin America to also designate the cartel as a terrorist organization.
What measures has the U.S. government taken against the Cartel of the Suns and its leaders?
The U.S. government has sanctioned the Cartel of the Suns by freezing its assets on American soil and prohibiting transactions with them. They are offering rewards of up to 25 million dollars for information leading to the capture of Nicolás Maduro and Diosdado Cabello. Furthermore, they have classified the cartel as a national security threat.
How does the classification of the Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization affect Venezuelan exiles in the U.S.?
The classification of the Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization could influence U.S. immigration policy toward Venezuelans, as VEPPEX has proposed extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelan exiles. However, the recent Supreme Court authorization to revoke TPS could complicate the situation for Venezuelan migrants in the U.S.
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