US authorities have seized a $13 million Dassault Falcon 900EX jet, allegedly bought for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in violation of US sanctions. The plane was confiscated in the Dominican Republic and flown to Florida.
The Department of Justice reported that the aircraft was purchased through a shell company to evade sanctions. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that the plane was illegally acquired and smuggled out of the US, violating sanctions imposed in 2019 that restrict dealings with Maduro’s government.
Matthew Axelrod of the Department of Commerce emphasized the US commitment to recovering smuggled assets. The jet, bought from a Florida-based company, was reportedly used for Maduro’s foreign trips and frequently flew to a Venezuelan military base.
Venezuela’s government condemned the seizure as “piracy.”
The US recently tightened sanctions on Venezuela following disputed elections in July, where Maduro claimed victory amid allegations of fraud. The Biden administration had previously eased some sanctions to promote fair elections but reimposed them after further allegations of misconduct.
