The United States has seized a private jet belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, alleging that its acquisition and use violated U.S. sanctions. The plane, a Dassault Falcon 900EX, was flown from the Dominican Republic to Florida on Monday as part of an enforcement action by U.S. federal authorities, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela.
The U.S. Department of Justice stated that the jet, often used by Maduro for both official and personal travel, was illegally exported from Florida to Venezuela via the Caribbean in April 2023. The aircraft, which had been registered in the European microstate of San Marino, was purchased for $13 million through a shell company, in direct violation of U.S. export controls and sanctions against the Venezuelan government.
“This morning, 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,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. He emphasized that the U.S. would continue to enforce sanctions to prevent Maduro from using American resources to undermine U.S. national security.
The seizure was coordinated by multiple U.S. agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Industry and Security, and the Department of Commerce. The jet had been detained in the Dominican Republic in recent months, where U.S. authorities saw an opportunity to confiscate it. Once in Florida, the U.S. plans to pursue forfeiture proceedings, giving the Venezuelan government an opportunity to contest the seizure.
The plane’s confiscation follows a long history of strained relations between the U.S. and Venezuela, exacerbated by Maduro’s disputed re-election and the country’s ongoing economic and political crises. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials and entities as part of its broader strategy to isolate Maduro’s government, which it has accused of widespread corruption and human rights abuses.
Maduro’s jet, often likened as his own “Air Force One,” has been documented traveling to various countries, including Cuba, Brazil, and China, with Maduro on board. The plane’s movements have been closely monitored by U.S. authorities, particularly given its use in high-profile international visits.
The U.S. has a longstanding policy of targeting the assets of Maduro and his associates as part of its efforts to disrupt what it views as the Venezuelan regime’s corrupt practices. Over the years, HSI has seized numerous assets linked to Venezuelan officials, including luxury vehicles and bank accounts, totaling billions of dollars.
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