US Seizes Venezuelan President’s Airplane, Citing Sanction Violations

The U.S. has seized an aircraft belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in the Dominican Republic, citing violations of sanctions laws, the Justice Department announced.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “This morning, the Justice Department seized an aircraft that we allege was illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the U.S. for use by Nicolás Maduro and his associates.” He added, “The Department will continue to target those who breach our sanctions and export controls to prevent them from using American resources to undermine U.S. national security.”

The aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 900EX, was seized in the Dominican Republic and transported to the Southern District of Florida. The seizure is linked to violations of U.S. export control and sanctions laws.

This action, occurring just over a month after Maduro’s re-election, highlights the ongoing strained relations between the U.S. and Venezuela. The U.S. has imposed economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation against Maduro’s government in support of opposition leaders.

An Executive Order from August 2019 bars U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with individuals acting on behalf of the Venezuelan government. In March 2020, the Justice Department indicted Maduro and his associates on narco-terrorism charges, accusing them of collaborating with the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) to smuggle cocaine into the U.S. The State Department has also offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest or conviction.