The United States has seized a private plane belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in the Dominican Republic, according to a report by Fox News.
The aircraft, described as Venezuela's equivalent of "Air Force One," was flown back to the United States on Monday and is now in U.S. custody.
U.S. authorities claim the plane was purchased through a shell company in violation of sanctions laws and export controls. The seizure was carried out by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Commerce, citing a specific violation of U.S. Executive Order 13884, signed by former President Donald Trump in 2019.
The Dassault Falcon 900-EX, valued at $13 million, was allegedly acquired illegally for Maduro's use. U.S. officials state that the purchase was made through a Caribbean-based shell company in late 2022 and early 2023, concealing the involvement of persons affiliated with Maduro.
The plane was reportedly bought from a company based in the Southern District of Florida and then illegally exported to Venezuela through the Caribbean in April 2023. Since May 2023, the aircraft has been used almost exclusively for flights to and from a military base in Venezuela, including transporting Maduro on visits to other countries.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland commented on the seizure:
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 seizure of Maduro's plane is expected to further strain relations between the United States and Venezuela. This action comes as part of ongoing efforts by the U.S. government to enforce sanctions against the Maduro regime and individuals associated with it.
The 2019 Executive Order 13884 prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with individuals acting on behalf of the Venezuelan government, including members of the Maduro regime. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Commerce has imposed export controls on items intended for Venezuelan military or military intelligence end users.
This move by the U.S. government demonstrates its commitment to enforcing sanctions and export controls related to Venezuela. It also sends a clear message about the consequences of violating these regulations.
The seizure resulted from a joint investigation involving multiple U.S. government agencies. The Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security Miami Field Office, along with the Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Investigations El Dorado Task Force Miami, played key roles in the operation.
Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew Axelrod of the Department of Commerce emphasized the significance of the seizure:
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.
The investigation revealed that the bearing tail number T7-ESPRT aircraft had been used extensively for Maduro's benefit since its illegal export. This includes its use for state visits and other travel by Maduro and his representatives.
The U.S. government's seizure of Maduro's private jet marks a significant enforcement action against alleged violations of sanctions and export controls. The $13 million Dassault Falcon 900-EX was seized in the Dominican Republic and flown to Florida. This move is likely to increase tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. It also demonstrates the U.S. government's commitment to enforcing sanctions against the Maduro regime and its associates.
