The United States has seized a private jet allegedly tied to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The aircraft, a Falcon 900EX, valued at approximately $13 million, was confiscated in the Dominican Republic before being transferred to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to the US Department of Justice.
The plane, which US officials claim was purchased illegally, had been flown out of the United States to Venezuela in April 2023, bypassing US export control and sanctions laws. Authorities allege that a shell company, based in the Caribbean and affiliated with Maduro, was used to obscure the plane's true ownership during its purchase from a Florida-based company between late 2022 and early 2023.
Markenzy Lapointe, US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, highlighted the collaboration with Dominican authorities, who provided "invaluable assistance" in orchestrating the seizure. Matthew S. Axelrod of the Department of Commerce emphasized the importance of international cooperation in such cases, stating, "It doesn't matter how fancy the private jet or how powerful the officials – we will work relentlessly with our partners here and across the globe to identify and return any aircraft illegally smuggled outside of the United States."
The jet had reportedly been used by President Maduro for international travel, with flight data indicating it operated "almost exclusively to and from a military base in Venezuela". It was flown to Caracas after a stop in Kingston, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, following its illegal export from the US.
This development comes amid increasing scrutiny of Maduro's government, with Venezuela's opposition claiming a convincing victory for its unity candidate, Edmundo González, in the recent elections. However, the electoral council, loyal to Maduro, has refused to recognize the result. The US. has acknowledged González's victory, citing "overwhelming" evidence of Maduro's defeat.
The European Union and several Latin American countries, including Brazil, have withheld their recognition of Maduro's re-election in July, demanding greater transparency from the Venezuelan government.
This is not the first time Maduro has faced legal challenges from the US. In 2020, the US Justice Department charged him and 14 other Venezuelan officials with a range of crimes, including narco-terrorism, corruption, and drug trafficking. The US State Department has even offered a $15 million reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest or conviction.
As tensions continue to simmer, Maduro's government has yet to comment on the seizure, leaving many questions unanswered about how the plane ended up in the Dominican Republic and what repercussions this action may have on the already strained US-Venezuela relations.
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