WASHINGTON, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday indicted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his aides on narco-terrorism charges, a rare move to further pressure the Maduro government.
U.S. Attorney General William Barr announced the indictment at a news briefing, accusing Maduro and other Venezuelan officials of conspiring "with the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), causing tons of cocaine to enter and devastate American communities."
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department offered a reward of up to 15 million U.S. dollars for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Maduro.
U.S. media reported that the indictment of a head of state was highly unusual, and this action served as an escalation of the Trump administration's campaign to pressure Maduro to step down.
The United States has been pursuing a policy of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation against the Maduro government in support of opposition leader Juan Guaido.
