In a significant move, the US government has seized a Dassault Falcon 900EX jet used by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, alleging it was illicitly acquired through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States in violation of sanctions and export control laws. The seizure occurred in the Dominican Republic, and the plane is now in federal custody in Florida.
The aircraft, valued at approximately $13 million, was reportedly exported from the US to Venezuela via the Caribbean in April 2023. This action was allegedly intended to bypass an executive order that prohibits US persons from engaging in business with the Maduro regime.
Matthew Axelrod, an assistant secretary for export enforcement at the Commerce Department, emphasized the significance of the seizure. “Let this seizure send a clear message: aircraft illegally acquired from the United States for the benefit of sanctioned Venezuelan officials cannot just fly off into the sunset,” Axelrod stated.
The plane, which had been registered in San Marino, was frequently used by Maduro for international travel, including trips to Guyana and Cuba earlier this year. It had also been involved in transporting Americans who had been imprisoned in Venezuela to Canouan Island in December 2023, as part of a prisoner exchange deal involving Alex Saab, a Maduro ally.
The timing of this seizure follows Venezuela’s contentious presidential election, where authorities aligned with Maduro’s ruling party declared him the winner without detailed results. This lack of transparency has led to widespread international criticism. The opposition has claimed that their review of over 80% of vote tally sheets indicated a significant loss for Maduro to former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez.
The same aircraft was noted for flying to the Dominican Republic in March 2024, purportedly for maintenance, but it never left the country. The US has imposed sanctions on 55 Venezuelan-registered planes owned by the state oil company PDVSA and is offering a $15 million reward for Maduro’s arrest on federal drug trafficking charges.
This seizure highlights ongoing tensions between the US and the Maduro government and underscores the broader implications of international sanctions enforcement. The situation remains dynamic as further investigations and actions may follow.
