U.S. Authorities Seize $13 Million Jet Used by Venezuela’s Maduro

Maduro Presidential Plane seized by US authorities.

As international pressure mounts, the US Justice Department on Monday has confirmed that US authorities have seized a plane used by Venezuela’s disputed President Nicolas Maduro. The aircraft’s purchase, according to authorities violated sanctions handed down by the US which led to its seizure in the Dominican Republic. The plane which has been likened to US Airfare One was then flown to Florida.

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro’s airplane lands in the US. (CNN)

A statement from U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft was illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the U.S. "for use by Nicolás Maduro and his cronies.” The aircraft’s seizure comes amid continuing pressure on Maduro at home and abroad over the July 28 election that he claims to won. Venezuela’s Supreme Court has also ruled in favor of Maduro on the matter.

However, there has been no official release of the voting tallies from Elections Council and the Opposition Leader, Maria Corina Machado, Opposition Presidential contender, Edmundo Gonzalez , and independent voting tallies all show the opposition party as a majority winner.

The U.S. seized a plane belonging to Nicolas Maduro (Creative Commons)

Another US official is quoted as saying "Let this seizure send a clear message: aircraft illegally acquired from the United States for the benefit of sanctioned Venezuelan officials cannot just fly off into the sunset.” Matthew Axelrod, the U.S. Commerce Department's Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement.

 According to international news agencies, a Justice Department investigation showed that 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 Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft.”

According to the US Justice department, the plane was then illegally exported from the United States to Venezuela through the Caribbean last year and since then has flown to and from a Venezuelan military base and been used "for the benefit of Maduro and his representatives, including to transport Maduro on visits to other countries.”