U.S. seizes Venezuelan President Maduro’s private jet

In a significant escalation of its sanctions enforcement, the U.S. government has seized a Dassault Falcon 900EX jet used by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The $13 million aircraft, which was reportedly purchased through a shell company to obscure its ownership, was illegally exported from Florida to Venezuela in 2023, according to U.S. officials. The plane was seized in the Dominican Republic and flown to Florida earlier this week.

The U.S. Justice Department announced the seizure, emphasizing its commitment to enforcing sanctions against the Maduro regime. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated, "The Justice Department will continue to pursue those who violate our sanctions and export controls to prevent them from using American resources to undermine the national security of the United States."

The jet, described as Venezuela's equivalent of Air Force One, had been used by Maduro and his representatives for international travel. According to the investigation, the aircraft flew almost exclusively to and from a military base in Venezuela, serving the regime's interests since its illegal export from the United States in April 2023.

Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod highlighted the importance of the seizure, noting, "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 operation involved multiple U.S. agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Department of Commerce, which worked closely with authorities in the Dominican Republic. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, which will oversee the forfeiture proceedings, praised the international cooperation that led to the successful seizure.

The aircraft's confiscation comes amid ongoing U.S. efforts to disrupt the flow of illicit funds to the Venezuelan government. The seizure sends a clear message that the U.S. will aggressively pursue assets linked to corruption and sanctions violations, even those involving high-ranking officials like Maduro.

The U.S. investigation revealed that the plane was purchased from a company in Florida and exported through the Caribbean. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs and HSI in Santo Domingo played key roles in coordinating with Dominican authorities, who were instrumental in detaining the plane.

The seizure is part of broader U.S. efforts to pressure the Maduro regime, which has been accused of widespread corruption, drug trafficking, and human rights abuses. U.S. officials continue to monitor and target assets linked to Maduro and his associates, reaffirming their commitment to holding the regime accountable on the global stage.

Unless the Brazilian government returns the illegally seized property of X and SpaceX, we will seek reciprocal seizure of government assets too.

Hope Lula enjoys flying commercial. https://t.co/ghZc11B4Hl

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 2, 2024

[With information from US Department of Justice and CNN]