United States authorities have seized a Falcon 900EX aircraft belonging to Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro. The US Justice Department claims the plane was purchased illegally for $13 million and subsequently smuggled out of Venezuela.
The aircraft was confiscated in the Dominican Republic before being transported to Florida.
It is currently unclear how the plane reached the Dominican Republic, but tracking data revealed that it departed La Isabela Airport in Santo Domingo on Monday and arrived shortly thereafter at Fort Lauderdale Airport.
Venezuelan officials have condemned the seizure as “an act of piracy.” Foreign Minister Yván Gil denounced the action, asserting that the US has justified its moves through “coercive measures” imposed unilaterally around the globe.
He further stated that Venezuela “reserves the right to take any legal action to repair this damage to the nation.”
US officials have cited suspected violations of export control and sanctions laws as the rationale for the seizure. According to their investigation, associates of Maduro allegedly used a Caribbean-based shell company to obscure their connection to the illicit purchase, which is said to have originated from a Florida company between late 2022 and early 2023.
Officials assert that the plane was then illegally exported from the United States to Venezuela through the Caribbean in April 2023.
This latest action marks a continued effort by the US to clamp down on Maduro’s government amid ongoing accusations of authoritarian practices and human rights violations.
However, given Maduro’s history of accusing the US of interference in Venezuelan affairs, the government’s outrage is expected to escalate in response to this incident.
The geopolitical ramifications of this seizure highlight the escalating tensions between the two nations and the complexities surrounding Venezuela’s international relations.
