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Reward in effect

The U.S. State Department offers up to US$15 million for information on Vladimir Padrino López

According to the U.S. State Department's reward notice, Vladimir Padrino López was indicted on May 24, 2019, by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia on a charge of “conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine onboard an aircraft registered in the United States.” A reward of up to US$15 million is offered for information leading to his arrest or conviction.

Official English-language poster from the State Department and the DEA: reward of up to US$15 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Vladimir Padrino López.
Official U.S. State Department and DEA poster. A work of the U.S. federal government, in the public domain. View the original poster (PDF)

Current status

The reward offer is listed as in effect on the U.S. State Department's website (last updated April 9, 2026).

Next review:

Charges as stated in the document

  1. “conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine onboard an aircraft registered in the United States”

    Statute cited: 21 U.S.C. §§ 959(c), 960(b)(1)(B)(ii) and 963; 18 U.S.C. § 2

Official documents cited

Analysis

Two kinds of money, two fates

The U.S. reward is a lawful payment that protects the person who provides information. Money from the Cartel de los Soles is blocked money that follows whoever receives it, wherever they are.

The reward

  • It is a lawful payment from the U.S. government: the Narcotics Rewards Program has already paid more than US$135 million to people who provided information. [1]
  • When necessary, the State Department takes steps to protect the identity and safety of the person who receives the payment. [1]
  • Up to US$25 million is offered for information on Diosdado Cabello Rondón, and up to US$15 million for information on Vladimir Padrino López. [2][3]
  • Important: public officials and government employees cannot receive rewards. [1]

Money from the Cartel de los Soles

  • The United States designated it a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on July 25, 2025, and a Foreign Terrorist Organization on November 24, 2025. [4][5]
  • Its property is blocked, and the prohibitions include receiving funds from a designated person. In OFAC's words, “Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons.” [4]
  • Providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and U.S. law reaches that offense even when it occurs outside U.S. territory. [6]

One option is a lawful payment that protects you. The other is marked money that can make you a target of the U.S. justice system in any country.

  1. [1] U.S. Department of State, “Narcotics Rewards Program”, accessed .
  2. [2] U.S. Department of State, “Diosdado Cabello Rondón — Narcotics Rewards Program: Wanted”, accessed .
  3. [3] U.S. Department of State, “Vladimir Padrino López — Narcotics Rewards Program: Wanted”, accessed .
  4. [4] U.S. Department of the Treasury (OFAC), “Treasury Sanctions Venezuelan Cartel Headed by Maduro”, .
  5. [5] U.S. Department of State, “Foreign Terrorist Organizations (Cartel de los Soles, Nov. 24, 2025)”, accessed .
  6. [6] U.S. Code, “18 U.S.C. § 2339B — Providing material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations”, current text.

How to submit information

The U.S. Department of State says information can be sent to the DEA by email. All identities are kept strictly confidential.

CartelSolesTips@usdoj.gov

The printed poster shows an older address (@dea.gov). Current State Department pages list the one above.

Source for this contact channel

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