US Takes Control of Venezuelan President Maduro’s Jet in Dominican Republic

In a significant escalation of tensions, the United States has seized an aircraft belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, citing violations of U.S. sanctions and other criminal concerns. The Dassault Falcon 900EX, often seen accompanying Maduro on state visits, was flown to Florida on Monday, according to U.S. officials.

The move underscores the strained relations between the U.S. and Venezuela and marks a new chapter in the ongoing investigation into alleged corrupt practices by Maduro’s government. Described as Venezuela’s equivalent of Air Force One, the aircraft had been prominently featured in Maduro’s international travels.

“This action sends a strong message,” a U.S. said “Seizing a foreign head of state’s plane for criminal matters is unprecedented. It’s a clear signal that no one is above U.S. law or the reach of our sanctions.”

Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed that the Justice Department seized the plane, which was allegedly purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the U.S. for Maduro’s use. The plane, originally bought from a Florida company, was illegally exported in April 2023 from the U.S. to Venezuela via the Caribbean, primarily servicing trips to and from a Venezuelan military base.

The last recorded flight of the jet was from Caracas to Santo Domingo in March, just before its seizure in the Dominican Republic.

Venezuela has condemned the seizure as an act of “piracy.” In a statement, the Venezuelan government accused the U.S. of escalating aggression following a contentious presidential election in July. “The U.S. has once again engaged in criminal behavior, seizing a presidential aircraft under the guise of sanctions,” the statement read. “This exemplifies the so-called ‘rules-based order,’ which disregards international law in favor of the strongest power’s dictates.”

The seizure involved multiple U.S. agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Industry and Security, and the Justice Department. According to Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge of HSI, the plane was seized due to violations of U.S. sanctions and ongoing investigations into its use.

A high-ranking Dominican official disclosed that the aircraft was undergoing maintenance in the Dominican Republic at the time of its seizure, and the local government had no prior knowledge of its presence until it was taken. U.S. officials coordinated with Dominican authorities, who notified Venezuela of the action.

The next steps involve pursuing the aircraft’s forfeiture in the U.S., where Venezuela will have the opportunity to contest the seizure and U.S. authorities will gather evidence from the jet.

The U.S. has recently pressured Venezuela to release data on its presidential election, citing concerns about the legitimacy of Maduro’s victory. Opposition sources have published documents suggesting that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia may have won the election, although these are not yet verified in full.

The crisis in Venezuela has had significant repercussions for U.S. politics, with millions of Venezuelans fleeing their country, many arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. Earlier this year, the U.S. reinstated sanctions on Venezuela’s oil and gas sector due to the Maduro government’s failure to conduct an inclusive and competitive election.

Following Maduro’s controversial reelection in July, Venezuela suspended commercial flights to and from the Dominican Republic.

Federal agencies, including HSI, have been active in targeting Venezuelan government assets over corruption concerns. HSI alone has disrupted around $2 billion in illicit Venezuelan government resources in recent years. In March 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Maduro and 14 other Venezuelan officials with narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and corruption.

The State Department has offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest or conviction. In 2017, two nephews of Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, were convicted for attempting to smuggle cocaine into the U.S. and were later released in a prisoner exchange in 2022.

“We are committed to exposing the corruption and abuses of the Maduro regime,” a U.S. official stated. “While Venezuelans struggle with severe shortages, their leaders are seen flaunting wealth in high-end private jets.”

Venezuela’s severe economic crisis, marked by food shortages and a collapsing healthcare system, has driven over 7.7 million people to flee, making it the largest displacement crisis in the Western Hemisphere.