US Seizes Plane of Venezuelan President, Maduro
The United States has confiscated a Falcon 900EX jet that allegedly belongs to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The US claims the plane, valued at $13 million, was purchased illegally and smuggled out of Venezuela.
According to the US Justice Department, the aircraft was seized in the Dominican Republic before being transported to Florida. However, details on how the plane ended up in the Dominican Republic remain unclear. Tracking data revealed that the plane departed from La Isabela airport in Santo Domingo on Monday and arrived at Fort Lauderdale shortly afterward.
There has been no immediate response from Maduro or the Venezuelan government regarding the seizure. US officials assert that the plane’s capture is linked to violations of export control and sanctions laws. Investigations indicated that associates of Maduro used a Caribbean-based shell company to obscure their involvement in purchasing the plane from a Florida company between late 2022 and early 2023. The aircraft was then illicitly exported to Venezuela through the Caribbean in April 2023.
US officials argue that the plane’s sale and export breach US sanctions, although Maduro, who has accused the US of interfering in Venezuela’s affairs, is likely to dismiss these claims. A White House National Security Council spokesperson described the seizure as a significant measure to hold Maduro accountable for his governance of Venezuela.
Markenzy Lapointe, US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, praised the Dominican Republic for its crucial role in facilitating the seizure. Matthew S. Axelrod of the Commerce Department emphasized that the US will persist in its efforts to track and recover illegally smuggled aircraft, regardless of their owners’ status.
Flight tracking data showed the plane traveling to Caracas after a stop in Kingston, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in April 2023, and frequently flying to and from a Venezuelan military base. The circumstances of its arrival in the Dominican Republic remain unknown.
This incident adds to a history of legal actions against Maduro and his government by US authorities, including charges of narco-terrorism, corruption, and drug trafficking. The US Department of Justice has also offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest or conviction.
