The US has seized a plane belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, alleging it was purchased illegally for $13m and smuggled out of the country. The Falcon 900EX aircraft was seized in the Dominican Republic and transferred to Florida, according to the US justice department. It is suspected that individuals connected to Maduro used a shell company to hide their involvement in the purchase from a Florida-based company in late 2022 and early 2023.
The US officials claim the plane’s sale and export violated US sanctions, leading to its seizure. The White House views this as a crucial move to hold Maduro accountable for his governance of Venezuela. Matthew S Axelrod of the department of commerce emphasized the commitment to identifying and returning illegally smuggled aircraft. The plane, which had been used by Maduro on visits to other countries, flew primarily to and from a military base in Venezuela.
This latest incident adds to the tension between the US and Venezuela, where Maduro has previously faced charges of corruption and drug trafficking. The US has even offered a reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest.
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