The United States authorities confiscated a private jet belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, citing violations of American sanctions.
According to the Justice Department, the plane, a Dassault Falcon 900EX, previously utilized by Maduro and his government officials, was reportedly purchased illegally.
On Monday, the aircraft was taken to the Dominican Republic and transported to Florida. The Justice Department alleges the $13 million jet was acquired through a Caribbean shell company to mask the involvement of Maduro’s associates in its unlawful procurement.
Flight Radar 24 data confirmed that the jet departed Santo Domingo for Fort Lauderdale early Monday. Allegations suggest the aircraft was illicitly exported from the U.S. to Venezuela via the Caribbean in April 2023 and has since predominantly operated between a Venezuelan military base.
During this period, Venezuela experienced significant unrest following the contentious July 28 election results, which declared Maduro the winner amid accusations of electoral fraud and authoritarianism. Despite international calls for transparency, Maduro’s administration has withheld specific voting data.
Read: Venezuela congress going ahead despite ‘imperial’ threat: Maduro
A U.S. National Security Council spokesperson criticized Maduro’s regime for manipulating electoral outcomes, maintaining power through repression, and ignoring democratic norms. The plane’s seizure is critical to holding Maduro accountable for his governance failures.
Since 2005, the U.S. has implemented sanctions targeting Venezuelan entities involved in unlawful or anti-democratic activities. Under the Trump administration, these were extended to include financial and sectoral sanctions aimed at curbing human rights violations and governmental corruption in Venezuela since Maduro took office in 2013.
