The United States has taken bold action by seizing a plane belonging to Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, marking a significant escalation in the tense relations between the two nations.

This move, carried out in the Dominican Republic, underscores the U.S. commitment to holding corrupt regimes accountable, especially when they flout U.S. laws and sanctions, as reported by CNN.

The aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 900EX often used by Maduro for international travel, is considered Venezuela’s equivalent to Air Force One.

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The plane’s confiscation sends a powerful message: no one, not even a foreign head of state, is beyond the reach of U.S. justice. “Seizing a foreign leader’s plane is unprecedented for criminal matters,” a U.S. official remarked, emphasizing the seriousness of the action.

Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that the Justice Department seized the plane, which was illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company.

The aircraft was smuggled out of the United States to Venezuela in April 2023, bypassing U.S. sanctions and regulations. It has since been used almost exclusively for Maduro’s trips to and from a Venezuelan military base.

The seizure involved multiple U.S. federal agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, and the Justice Department.

Their coordinated efforts, with cooperation from the Dominican Republic, resulted in the successful capture of the plane, which has now been flown to Florida. This development marks another step in the U.S. government’s ongoing efforts to disrupt the flow of illicit resources to the Maduro regime.

NEW: Per US official, the US has seized Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro's airplane in the Dominican Republic, and HSI flew it back to the US in Fort Lauderdale, FL this morning. I'm told the $13 million plane is Maduro's version of Air Force One, used for state visits around…

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) September 2, 2024

In response to Maduro’s corrupt practices, the U.S. has long sought to choke off the billions of dollars funneled into the Venezuelan government’s coffers.

HSI alone has managed to seize billions in assets and luxury goods destined for Venezuela. Special Agent Anthony Salisbury stated, “This plane was seized in violation of U.S. sanctions and other criminal matters we’re still investigating.”

The political situation in Venezuela has also created a humanitarian crisis, with over 7.7 million Venezuelans fleeing the country due to severe economic hardship, food shortages, and lack of healthcare. Many have sought refuge in the United States, contributing to the growing pressures at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The U.S. has consistently pressured the Venezuelan government, recently demanding transparency in the country’s presidential election results. This follows Washington’s decision to reimpose sanctions on Venezuela’s oil and gas sector after the Maduro regime failed to hold a fair and competitive election.

Maduro’s criminal activities are well-documented. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted him and 14 other Venezuelan officials on charges of narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and corruption. The U.S. has also offered a $15 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest.

This piece was written by LifeZette News Staff on September 2, 2024. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

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