The United States has seized a plane owned by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in the Dominican Republic, marking a further escalation of tensions between the two countries. The plane, described as Maduro's version of "Air Force One," was allegedly purchased through a straw company in violation of sanctions laws and export controls.
The United States has seized a plane owned by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in the Dominican Republic, a move that will further frost relations between the two countries.
The seizure, confirmed by Fox News, comes after a joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Department of Commerce. The plane, a Dassault Falcon 900-EX valued at $13 million, was allegedly purchased through a straw company in violation of sanctions laws and export controls.
U.S. Seizes Venezuelan President's Air Force One in Dominican Republic
According to U.S. officials, the plane was used for Maduro's state visits around the world and was seized in the Dominican Republic following an initial report by CNN. The seizure is expected to further frost relations between the U.S. and Venezuela.
The seizure was a result of a joint investigation with HSI and the U.S. Department of Commerce. The plane, valued at $13 million, is a Dassault Falcon 900-EX.
U.S. Seizes Venezuelan President's Air Force One in Dominican Republic
In August 2019, Trump issued Executive Order 13884, which prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with persons who have acted or purported to act directly or indirectly for or on behalf of, the government of Venezuela, including as a member of the Maduro regime.
To protect U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, the Department of Commerce has also imposed export controls for items intended, entirely or in part, for a Venezuelan military or military-intelligence end user.
U.S. Seizes Venezuelan President's Air Force One in Dominican Republic
In late 2022 and early 2023, persons affiliated with Maduro allegedly used a Caribbean-based shell company to conceal their involvement in the illegal purchase of the aircraft, which at the time was valued at approximately $13 million, from a company based in the Southern District of Florida, according to U.S. investigators.
The aircraft was then illegally exported from the United States to Venezuela through the Caribbean in April 2023. Since May 2023, the Dassault Falcon, bearing tail number T7-ESPRT, "has flown almost exclusively to and from a military base in Venezuela and has been used for the benefit of Maduro and his representatives, including to transport Maduro on visits to other countries," the DOJ said.
U.S. Seizes Venezuelan President's Air Force One in Dominican Republic
"This morning, 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," U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
"The Department will continue to pursue those who violate our sanctions and export controls to prevent them from using American resources to undermine the national security of the United States."
The Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security Miami Field Office is investigating the case, along with the DHS, HSI El Dorado Task Force Miami.
