Discover how the US government has seized a plane owned by Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and the implications of this action.
According to CNN’s report on Monday, the airplane supposedly utilized by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been seized by the US government for violating Washington’s sanctions against Caracas.
Maduro has been accused of drug trafficking by the Americans and his successes in the previous two presidential elections in Venezuela have not been acknowledged.
According to an anonymous Washington official who spoke with CNN on Monday, the act of seizing a foreign head of state’s plane for criminal purposes is unprecedented. This move sends a strong message that US sanctions apply equally to everyone and nobody is exempt from the law.
CNN reported that the aircraft’s value is approximately $13 million and it was confiscated in conjunction with Dominican authorities.
The airplane seized in the Dominican Republic and transported to Miami, Florida was not named by the US outlet. The seizure involved multiple departments including Homeland Security, Commerce and Justice.
The Dassault Falcon 900EX, a corporate jet built in France, was identified by The Miami Herald. It has made previous visits to Cuba, Brazil and St. Vincent and the Grenadines with Maduro on board. Its registration indicates it may be from San Marino.
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According to The Herald, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records reveal that a Florida company sold an airplane to a St. Vincent-based firm, which subsequently resold it to San Marino. However, the American government accuses the reselling entity of being a Venezuelan shell corporation and breaching its restrictions on Venezuela trade deals.
The US officials referred to the plane as Venezuela’s version of “Air Force One” and pointed out that Maduro has utilized it for travel numerous times. However, it remains unclear how the aircraft ended up in Dominican Republic since commercial air traffic between Venezuela and this island was halted after the presidential election held on July 28th.
CNN reports that the US plans to utilize asset forfeiture procedures in order to seize the plane. As a result, Venezuela may have an opportunity to dispute this action legally; however, it must first find a way around imposed sanctions.
The US has seized another Venezuelan jet this year, marking the second time. In February, a Boeing 747-300M cargo plane was confiscated by Argentina in 2022 and later sent to the US as Caracas had bought it from an Iranian company that was sanctioned. Maduro accused Argentine President Javier Milei’s government of “blatant theft” regarding this seizure incident.
An anonymous official has informed CNN that in recent years, $2 billion worth of Venezuelan bank accounts and assets have been confiscated by Washington.
