The plane was primarily used for President Maduro’s international travels, including flights to and from a military base in Venezuela.
US – The United States government has seized an aircraft associated with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, citing violations of U.S. sanctions and other criminal activities.
The plane, a Dassault Falcon 900EX, was reportedly acquired through illegal means and was flown to Florida on Monday after being detained in the Dominican Republic.
The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that the aircraft, valued at $13 million, was purchased through a shell company and illicitly exported from Florida to Venezuela in April 2023. The plane was primarily used for President Maduro’s international travels, including flights to and from a military base in Venezuela.
The seizure marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. A U.S. official told CNN, “Seizing the foreign head of state’s plane is unheard-of for criminal matters. We’re sending a clear message here that no one is above the law, no one is above the reach of U.S. sanctions.”
The Dominican Republic’s President, Luis Abinader, clarified that the plane was not registered under the Venezuelan government but rather under an individual’s name. The country’s Attorney General’s Office had previously received an order from a national court in May to immobilize the aircraft, following a U.S. request to search it for evidence related to fraud, smuggling, and money laundering.
In response to the seizure, the Venezuelan government condemned the action as “piracy” and accused the U.S. of escalating its aggression towards Maduro’s administration, especially following a contested presidential election in July. The Venezuelan government’s statement criticized the U.S. for using its power to pressure other nations, like the Dominican Republic, to participate in what it described as criminal acts.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated, “The Justice Department seized an aircraft we allege was illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by Nicolás Maduro and his cronies.”
The Venezuelan government, however, continues to denounce the seizure, framing it as an example of the U.S.’s disregard for international law and an attempt to impose its will through coercive measures.
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