The United States government has doubled its reward for information that leads to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, raising the offer to $50 million.

This move comes as the US accuses Maduro of being one of the world’s biggest drug traffickers, deepening tensions between the two countries.

The increased reward highlights the ongoing effort by the US to hold Maduro accountable amid allegations of corruption, drug trafficking, and repression.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the reward increase, which builds on a previous $25 million offer. She stated that Maduro is directly involved in large-scale drug smuggling operations.

Bondi accused Maduro of coordinating with criminal groups such as the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, designated by the US as a terrorist organization, and Mexico’s powerful Sinaloa Cartel.

She also revealed that the US Drug Enforcement Administration had seized 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his associates, with nearly seven tons tied specifically to Maduro himself.

This move follows charges brought during Donald Trump’s presidency, which accused Maduro and other senior Venezuelan officials of narco-terrorism, corruption, and drug trafficking.

The US Department of Justice previously claimed that Maduro had collaborated with the Colombian rebel group Farc to flood the US with cocaine as a weapon. Maduro has always denied any involvement in drug trafficking.

In response, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil called the new reward "pathetic" and described it as "political propaganda." Gil accused Bondi of trying to divert attention from controversies surrounding the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, saying, "We're not surprised, coming from whom it comes from."

Maduro has led Venezuela since 2013, succeeding Hugo Chavez as head of the United Socialist Party. Despite facing widespread criticism for repressing opposition and suppressing dissent, including through violent means, Maduro has maintained his hold on power.

His re-election in January was marred by allegations of vote rigging, with many international observers rejecting the legitimacy of the results.

The recent developments also come after Hugo Carvajal, former head of Venezuela’s military intelligence, was convicted in the United States on multiple drug trafficking charges. Carvajal fled Venezuela after urging the military to support opposition forces against Maduro.

Although he initially denied the charges, he later pleaded guilty, sparking speculation that he may have cooperated with US authorities in exchange for a reduced sentence and possibly providing information about Maduro.

Following Maduro’s controversial return to office earlier this year, both the United Kingdom and the European Union imposed sanctions on his government. The US government, however, has not outlined how the increased reward will be used or how it expects the appeal to yield tangible results.