The United States has seized a private jet linked to Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, escalating tensions between the two nations.
The US Justice Department claimed that the Falcon 900EX aircraft, valued at $13 million, was illegally purchased in the US and smuggled out of the country in violation of American sanctions.
The aircraft, which was in the Dominican Republic at the time of its seizure, has been flown back to Florida.
US officials have stated that the plane was used almost exclusively for trips to and from a military base in Venezuela and has been utilized for Maduro’s international travel.
In a statement, US Attorney General Merrick Garland explained that the Justice Department’s actions were part of broader efforts to enforce sanctions against the Maduro regime.
The US has imposed multiple sanctions on Venezuela in an effort to pressure Maduro to step down, a strategy that has contributed to the frosty relations between the two countries.
US Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement, Matthew Axelrod, emphasized that this seizure should serve as a warning that even high-profile individuals and luxurious assets are not beyond the reach of US law enforcement.
He reiterated the US’s commitment to recovering any assets illegally smuggled out of the country.
This incident is the latest development in the ongoing dispute between the US and Venezuela, which has seen the US reimpose sanctions on Venezuela’s oil and gas sectors due to concerns over the integrity of the country’s electoral processes.
