Diosdado Cabello remains central figure in Venezuela's post-Maduro leadership

Diosdado Cabello, a long-time Venezuelan powerbroker, was reappointed interior minister in August 2024 and oversees the country's security and intelligence services; the United States has posted a $25 million reward for his capture, accusing him of drug trafficking and terrorism.

Diosdado Cabello is a long-standing Venezuelan political figure who has been prominent for more than two decades. After US forces removed Nicolas Maduro and put him on trial, attention has focused on Cabello as a leading figure in the interim leadership. He was reappointed interior minister in August 2024 and is reported to oversee the security apparatus and intelligence services. The United States has posted a $25 million reward for his capture, with accusations of drug trafficking and terrorism announced by US authorities. Reported details: - Cabello has held multiple senior posts, including interior minister and secretary-general of the United Socialist Party, and is widely viewed as a key powerbroker tied historically to Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro. - He is reported to have helped set up the colectivos, neighbourhood groups described in the article as armed and active on the streets, and the government is described as having limited control over them. - Observers cited in the article say Cabello has significant informal influence while others, including Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López and Delcy Rodríguez, hold formal positions, creating reported tensions within the interim leadership. - The United States has posted a $25 million reward for Cabello’s capture and has accused him, alongside Maduro, of involvement in drug trafficking and terrorism; after Maduro’s removal, Cabello publicly expressed defiance on behalf of the leftist government. Summary: Cabello’s control of security institutions and his public role after Maduro’s removal keep him at the centre of political tensions in Venezuela and under international scrutiny. The US reward and the accusations maintain legal and diplomatic pressure. Undetermined at this time.