US Seizes Venezuelan President Maduro Plane: Accused Of Violating Sanctions, Taken From Dominica To Florida

JAKARTA - The United States confiscated a plane used by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, assessing its purchase violated sanctions and flew it from the Dominican Republic to Florida, the US Department of Justice said on Monday.

US Attorney General Total Garland said in a statement the confiscated Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft was illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the US "for use by Nicolas Maduro and his kronies."

"Let this confiscation send a clear message: aircraft obtained illegally from the United States for the benefit of Venezuelan officials who are subject to sanctions cannot fly just like that," said Matthew Axelrod, assistant Secretary of the US Department of Commerce for export enforcement.

Justice Department investigations show that by the end of 2022 and early 2023, "people affiliated with Maduro are suspected of using Caribbean-based shell companies to hide their involvement in the illegal purchase of the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft."

The aircraft was later illegally exported from the United States to Venezuela via the Caribbean last year and has since flown to and from Venezuelan military bases and has been used "for the benefit of Maduro and its representatives, including to transport Maduro on a visit to other countries," the Justice Department said.

US officials said the seizure, first reported by CNN, was carried out in close cooperation with the Dominican Republic.

"This is an important step to ensure Maduro continues to feel the consequences of its mismanagement of Venezuela," a White House National Security Council spokesman said.

Separately, the Venezuelan Government, which confirmed that Maduro had used the plane, said in an afternoon statement that the confiscation was "neother than piracy", illegal and "repetitive criminal practices" by the United States.

The confiscation of the aircraft took place amid continued pressure on President Maduro at home and abroad, regarding the July 28 general election he claimed to have won. Meanwhile, the opposition said a copy of the vote count showed his candidate as the winner.

Many Western countries have questioned the fairness of the election, with the US congratulating opposition candidategetto Gonzalez for winning the most votes.

Meanwhile, President Maduro and his ruling party allies said other countries should not interfere in the Venezuelan elections, citing the recent election scandals in the United States and Brazil as evidence of what they say is Western typology.