The United States has confiscated a plane used by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, flying it from the Dominican Republic to Florida, after determining that its purchase violated U.S. sanctions, the Justice Department announced on Monday.
The seizure occurred amid ongoing international pressure on Maduro regarding the disputed July 28 presidential election, which he claims to have won. However, the opposition maintains that its candidate secured the victory based on their tally of votes.
The Venezuelan government, confirming Maduro’s use of the plane, denounced the move as “nothing but piracy,” calling it illegal and a “repeated criminal practice” by the United States.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft was purchased illegally for $13 million through a shell company. “Let this seizure send a clear message: aircraft illegally acquired from the United States for the benefit of sanctioned Venezuelan officials cannot just fly off into the sunset,” emphasized Matthew Axelrod, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the U.S. Commerce Department.
The plane, which had been flown to and from a Venezuelan military base, was reportedly used for Maduro’s international visits. The seizure was conducted in collaboration with authorities in the Dominican Republic.
A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council commented, “This is an important step to ensure that Maduro continues to feel the consequences from his misgovernance of Venezuela.”
The Justice Department’s investigation revealed that in late 2022 and early 2023, individuals associated with Maduro allegedly used a Caribbean-based shell company to conceal their involvement in the plane’s illegal purchase and export from the United States to Venezuela.
The international community, including the U.S., has questioned the fairness of the recent election, with the U.S. recognizing opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as the legitimate winner. Maduro, however, has accused foreign nations of interfering in Venezuela’s internal affairs, citing recent electoral controversies in the U.S. and Brazil as examples of “Western hypocrisy.”
The situation remains fluid, with further developments anticipated.
