GUIDE
Where is Padrino López? Out of Defense, now agriculture minister and wanted by the US
Where he is
He is not in custody. Delcy Rodríguez removed him as defense minister on March 18, 2026, after more than eleven years in the post, and replaced him with General Gustavo González López. On April 13, 2026 she named him Minister of Agriculture and Lands.
The charges
A federal grand jury in Washington charged him in May 2019 with conspiring to ship cocaine to the US using US-registered aircraft. The US offers up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest. He has never been tried.
Timeline
- Delcy Rodríguez names him Minister of Agriculture and Lands. UPI
- He is removed as defense minister; Gustavo González López replaces him. CNN en Español
- The US offers up to $15 million for information on him. US State Department
- He is charged in Washington with drug-trafficking conspiracy. UPI
Sources
- UPI · Reinstated despite $15M US reward (Apr 14, 2026)
- CNN en Español · Removed from Defense (Mar 18, 2026)
- US State Department · Vladimir Padrino López
Common questions
- Is Padrino López in custody?
- No. As of September 25, 2026 he is Venezuela's Minister of Agriculture and Lands.
- Is Padrino López still defense minister?
- No. He was removed on March 18, 2026 and replaced by Gustavo González López.
- How much is the US reward for Padrino López?
- Up to $15 million.
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