US President Donald Trump is a long-time critic of Maduro, who returned to office in January following an election marred by vote-rigging allegations. The results were widely rejected by the international community.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said the US would double its already announced reward of $25m (£18.6m), and said Maduro was directly linked to drug smuggling operations.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said the new reward was “pathetic” and labelled it “political propaganda”.

“We’re not surprised, coming from whom it comes from,” Gil said, accusing Bondi of attempting a “desperate distraction” from headlines related to backlash over the handling of the case of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

During Trump’s first term, the US government charged Maduro and other high-ranking Venezuelan officials with a range of offences, including narco-terrorism, corruption and drug trafficking.

At the time, the US Department of Justice claimed Maduro had worked with the Colombian rebel group Farc to “use cocaine as a weapon to ‘flood’ the United States”.

In a video posted on X on Thursday, Bondi accused Maduro of coordinating with groups like Tren de Aragua – a Venezuelan gang that the Trump administration has declared a terrorist organisation – and the Sinaloa Cartel, a powerful criminal network based in Mexico.

She claimed the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had “seized 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his associates, with nearly seven tons linked to Maduro himself”.

Maduro has previously rejected US claims he has direct involvement in drug trafficking.

Bondi’s comments are an extension of long-running tensions between the US and Venezuelan government – but the attorney general did not provide any further indication over how the government envisioned the renewed appeal and cash incentive would yield results.

Maduro – who is leader of the United Socialist Party and succeeded Hugo Chavez in 2013 – has been repeatedly accused of repressing opposition groups and silencing dissent in Venezuela, including with the use of violence.

He weathered protests in the wake of last year’s contested election and has retained his grip on power.

But in June, Hugo Carvajal – formerly the head of Venezuela’s military intelligence – was convicted of several drug trafficking charges after being arrested in Madrid and put on trial in the US.

Carvajal had been a feared spymaster who went by the name El Pollo, or The Chicken, but fled Venezuela after calling on the army to back an opposition candidate and overthrow Maduro.

He initially denied the drug charges but later changed his plea to guilty, fuelling speculation he had cut a deal with US authorities for a lesser sentence in exchange for incriminating information about Maduro.

The UK and EU announced sanctions against Maduro’s government following his return to office earlier this year.

The announcement came after a meeting between President Nicolás Maduro and a senior Trump administration official, Richard Grenell, that led to the release of six US detainees held in Venezuela.

“Venezuela has agreed to receive, back into their Country, all Venezuela illegal aliens who were encamped in the U.S., including gang members of Tren de Aragua,” Trump wrote. “Venezuela has further agreed to supply the transportation back.”

Venezuela has not independently announced the deal.

A statement issued by the Venezuelan government said that migration was among the topics discussed by Grenell and Maduro, according to the Venezuelan state-sponsored broadcaster TeleSUR.

The earlier release of the six US detainees was announced on social media by Trump and Grenell. Their names have not been made public.

Grenell did not name the six men, who were seen dressed in light blue outfits used by the Venezuelan prison system.

At least nine people with US citizenship or residency are believed to be among more than 2,200 detained by Venezuelan authorities following nationwide protests over the disputed July 2024 election results, in which Maduro claimed victory.

His re-election was widely rejected by the opposition and international community, including the US. He was sworn in for his third term last month.

“We are wheels up and headed home with these 6 American citizens,” Grenell posted on X. “They just spoke to @realDonaldTrump and they couldn’t stop thanking him.”

Trump hailed the move in a separate post, saying Grenell was bringing the six “home from Venezuela”.

Venezuelan state media said the discussions with President Trump’s envoy had been respectful.

After the meeting, Maduro said the talks had had “zero agenda” and that he sought a “new beginning in bilateral relations” with the US.

However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier on Friday that Grenell’s visit did not mean US recognition of Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.

The release of the men was announced on social media by Donald Trump and his special envoy, Richard Grenell.

Grenell – who published online a photo of the six on board his plane – said they had spoken by phone to President Trump to thank him.

Earlier, the White House had called on Venezuela to release “US hostages” – as well as agreeing to receive Venezuelan criminals deported by the US – or face consequences.

Grenell did not name the six men, who were seen dressed in light blue outfits used by the Venezuelan prison system.

“We are wheels up and headed home with these 6 American citizens,” Grenell posted on X. “They just spoke to @realDonaldTrump and they couldn’t stop thanking him.”

Trump hailed the move in a separate post, saying Grenell was bringing “six hostages home from Venezuela”.

In January, Caracas announced the capture of a group of “mercenaries” who included US citizens.

Venezuelan state media said the discussions with President Trump’s envoy had been respectful.

After the meeting, Maduro said the talks had had “zero agenda” and that he sought a “new beginning in bilateral relations” with the US.

However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier on Friday that Grenell’s visit did not mean US recognition of Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader.

Maduro was sworn in last month for a third term as Venezuelan president, six months after disputed elections which the opposition and international community say he lost.

The official results of the July 2024 election have been widely rejected by the international community, including the US.

The inauguration ceremony was overshadowed by recrimination from the international community and Venezuelan opposition leaders.

Rewards have also been offered for information leading to the arrest and or conviction of Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.

A new reward of up to $15m for Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino has also been offered.

The UK also issued sanctions on 15 top Venezuelan officials, including judges, members of the security forces and military officials.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said those sanctioned were responsible for “undermining democracy, the rule of law, and human rights violations”.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy went on to describe Maduro’s regime as “fraudulent”.