Whistleblowers Seek Reward for Informants in Maduro Case

Two whistleblowers from the Drug Enforcement Administration are pushing for a $50 million reward for a source who provided crucial information leading to the arrest of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

They stated that the informants had penetrated “every node” of Maduro’s regime, putting their lives on the line to share details with DEA and military officials about the precise locations of key individuals in Caracas.

Wesley Tabor, a veteran federal law officer, along with a former undercover agent known only as “Mac,” recently spoke with independent journalist Katherine Herridge. Tabor emphasized that informants deserve to be “rewarded” for their courageous efforts.

“I felt good and felt like we did the right thing,” Mac shared in the interview. “At least the source will be rewarded, and, really, that means everyone wins.”

In an affidavit from January 12, Tabor discussed activating this network of sources and briefing Michael Flynn, a former national security adviser, and John Moynihan, an ex-DEA expert, in September 2025.

The affidavit detailed Maduro’s “exact location” along with his security details, military sites, bunker blueprints, underground tunnels, and gold reserves. This information was subsequently relayed to federal agents by Flynn and Moynihan.

The whistleblowers noted during interviews on “Straight to the Point” that this data was shared directly with contacts in the Army’s elite Delta Force stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

“We are confident that our intelligence played a significant role in the success of their operation, ultimately leading to Maduro’s arrest and extradition,” Tabor remarked.

He further indicated that sources in Venezuela are driven by a sense of “patriotism for their homeland,” often acting for those who have suffered at the hands of the regime.

“So, what will their families gain from this?” Tabor pondered. “It’s about a chance for change. And, let’s be real, the financial incentive could also offer a way out for them if things go south.”

On August 7, 2025, the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program publicly announced a $50 million offer for information leading to Maduro’s arrest or conviction for violating U.S. drug laws.

After a successful operation on January 3 against Maduro’s presidential residence, Secretary of State Marco Rubio humorously commented on saving $50 million for the U.S.

However, Tabor expressed disappointment over whether the promised compensation would actually materialize for the informants. “We’re trying to raise separate funds to support them because many, including children, are in hiding and need a safer environment, which incurs costs,” he said.

Mac claimed that the informants feel “abandoned” and face “the risk of death” due to their actions.

“They’re stuck,” he mentioned, highlighting concerns about how this will affect future collaboration from potential intelligence sources.

“I think we’re going to run out of collaborators who are in the right place at the right time,” Tabor warned. “Their hesitation could put all our global programs at risk.”

No comments were received from State Department representatives regarding these claims.