The United States recently seized the Falcon 900EX plane used by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. This action was taken because the U.S. government determined that the plane was purchased illegally, violating U.S. sanctions.
U.S. Seizes Maduro’s Falcon 900EX Plane
The plane, a Dassault Falcon 900EX, was flown from the Dominican Republic to Florida. The U.S. Justice Department confirmed the seizure on Monday, marking a significant moment in the ongoing tension between the two countries.
According to the U.S. Justice Department, the plane was bought for $13 million through a shell company to hide the identities of those involved in the purchase. It was later smuggled out of the United States and used by President Maduro and his associates for official travel. The plane had been seen in December during the return of Alex Saab, a businessman who was granted clemency in a U.S. money laundering case and returned to Venezuela in a prisoner swap.
Venezuela’s Response
The Venezuelan government did not take this action lightly. They released a statement calling the seizure of Falcon 900EX “piracy” and described it as an illegal and criminal act by the United States.
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The government has been under significant pressure both domestically and internationally following a disputed presidential election on July 28. While President Maduro claims to have won the election, the opposition argues that its candidate received more votes based on their own copies of the vote tallies.
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Despite the election controversy, many Western countries have questioned its fairness, with the U.S. even congratulating the opposition candidate for securing the most votes. However, Maduro and his allies have argued that other countries should not interfere in Venezuela’s internal affairs. They pointed to recent election scandals in the United States and Brazil as examples of what they consider Western hypocrisy.
Sanctions and Consequences
This incident is part of a broader pattern of U.S. sanctions against Venezuela, specifically targeting Maduro, his associates, and the country’s vital oil sector. These sanctions are meant to pressure Maduro’s government, which has been widely criticized for its management of the country. The U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and other officials emphasized that this seizure of Falcon 900EX sends a clear message: assets illegally acquired from the United States for the benefit of sanctioned officials will not be tolerated.
Matthew Axelrod, the U.S. Commerce Department’s assistant secretary for export enforcement, added that Falcon 900EX aircraft cannot just “fly off into the sunset.” The U.S. authorities coordinated closely with the Dominican Republic to carry out the seizure. A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council stated that this action is a crucial step in ensuring that Maduro faces consequences for what they described as the misgovernance of Venezuela.
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The U.S. Justice Department’s investigation revealed that individuals affiliated with Maduro used a Caribbean-based shell company to secretly buy the aircraft. After being illegally exported from the United States to Venezuela through the Caribbean, the plane was reportedly used for various purposes, including transporting Maduro on visits to other countries.
This event underscores the ongoing tension between the United States and Venezuela. The seizure of the falcon 900EX plane is seen as a significant move by the U.S. to continue pressuring Maduro’s government, especially in the context of the disputed election and the international criticism of his leadership. The situation remains delicate, with both sides accusing each other of wrongdoing, and the global community watching closely as the drama unfolds.
