Rubio Blasts Maduro as Narco-Terrorist Leader on Venezuela Election Anniversary

In a scathing critique, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has branded Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro a narco-terrorist leader, accusing him of orchestrating drug trafficking into the United States and beyond. This fiery condemnation comes as Venezuela holds municipal elections, strategically timed just a day before the one-year anniversary of the widely disputed presidential election of July 2024, which the U.S. and international observers have decried as fraudulent.

Rubio didn’t hold back in his statement on Sunday, asserting that Maduro’s regime is far from legitimate. "Maduro is not the President of Venezuela," he declared, emphasizing that the U.S. stands resolute in supporting the restoration of democratic order in the South American nation. He pointed fingers at Maduro as the head of the Cartel de los Soles, a group Rubio claims has corrupted Venezuela’s institutions to fuel a criminal narco-trafficking network targeting American soil.

The accusations aren’t new, but the stakes are higher. Maduro and several associates face charges from the U.S. Justice Department dating back to 2020 for narco-terrorism and corruption. The State Department has even upped the ante, increasing the reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture to a staggering $25 million. Meanwhile, the Treasury Department recently slapped sanctions on the Cartel de los Soles, labeling it a global terrorist entity and alleging its support for notorious groups like Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel, both classified as foreign terrorist organizations by the Trump administration.

Rubio also criticized the timing of the municipal elections, suggesting it’s a deliberate move by Maduro’s regime to suppress dissent through military and police intimidation, echoing tactics used during last year’s contested presidential vote. "Those who steal elections and cling to power through force undermine America’s national security," Rubio warned, signaling that the U.S. will continue to collaborate with allies to hold Maduro accountable.

As Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed similar sentiments, accusing Maduro’s regime of facilitating narco-terrorism, the message is clear: the U.S. is doubling down on its mission to dismantle these networks. For now, Maduro remains a polarizing figure, unrecognized by the U.S. as Venezuela’s leader since 2019, while the Venezuelan people grapple with a political crisis that shows no sign of resolution.