The United States on Thursday doubled its bounty for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to $50 million, ramping up pressure on the authoritarian leader that began during the first Trump administration.

The U.S. has doubled its reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over allegations of drug trafficking and links to criminal groups.

The United States doubled its bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro -- who faces federal drug trafficking charges -- to $50 million on Thursday, a move Caracas described as "pathetic" and "ridiculous".