The U.S. has seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s plane, the Justice Department announced on Monday.
A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led investigation discovered the plane in the Dominican Republic, a source said.
After the U.S. government seized the plane, it was flown to Florida on Monday, according to the source. Maduro was no on board, the source said.
The plane is the Venezuelan equivalent to Air Force One, and flight records show it is a Dassault 900.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gestures as he delivers a speech during a rally in Caracas, on Aug. 28, 2024.
Pedro Rances Mattey/AFP via Getty Images
“This morning, the Justice Department seized an aircraft we allege was illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by Nicolás Maduro and his cronies,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. “The 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 head HSI agent in Miami also lauded the seizure.
The U.S. has seized a plane belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and brought it to the Fort Lauderrdale-Hollywood International Airport, on Sept. 2, 2024.
WPLG
“The seizure of this aircraft is another significant action by Homeland Security Investigations working with our domestic and international partners against the illegal activities of the Maduro regime,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami.
Officers stand in front of an airplane that, according to the authorities, belongs to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Sept. 2, 2024.
Cristobal Herrera-Ulashkevich/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Earlier, a U.S. National Security Council spokesperson confirmed the seizure of “an aircraft used by Maduro and his representatives.”
“Over the past month, as demonstrated by a wide variety of independent sources, Maduro and his representatives’ have tampered with the results of the July 28 presidential election, falsely claimed victory, and carried out wide-spread repression to maintain power by force,” the spokesperson said.
Officers extract boxes labeled as evidence from an airplane that, according to the authorities, belongs to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Sept. 2, 2024.
Cristobal Herrera-Ulashkevich/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
“Last week, one of Venezuela’s own National Electoral Council rectors further validated that Maduro has provided no evidence that he won this election. The United States, in coordination with our partners, is working to ensure that the will of the Venezuelan people, as expressed through the July 28 election, is respected,” the spokesperson said.
“Today, the U.S. Department of Justice took action to enforce U.S. sanctions — seizing an aircraft used by Maduro and his representatives. This is an important step to ensure that Maduro continues to feel the consequences from his misgovernance of Venezuela,” the spokesperson said.
CNN was first to report the plane’s seizure.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently made headlines with the announcement of the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s plane in the United States. This move comes as part of the ongoing efforts to hold the Maduro regime accountable for its alleged involvement in drug trafficking and other criminal activities.
The DOJ’s action to seize Maduro’s plane is a significant development in the ongoing tensions between the United States and Venezuela. The move is seen as a strong message to Maduro and his associates that the US will not tolerate their illicit activities and will take decisive action to disrupt their operations.
According to the DOJ, the seizure of Maduro’s plane is part of a broader effort to target the financial assets of individuals and entities involved in drug trafficking and other criminal activities. The plane, a luxurious Airbus A319, is believed to have been used by Maduro and his inner circle for travel and other purposes.
The DOJ’s announcement of the seizure of Maduro’s plane has been met with mixed reactions. Some see it as a necessary step to combat the Maduro regime’s criminal activities, while others view it as a provocative move that could escalate tensions between the two countries.
In response to the seizure of his plane, Maduro has condemned the action as an act of aggression and interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs. He has vowed to take all necessary measures to protect Venezuela’s sovereignty and defend against what he sees as US imperialism.
The seizure of Maduro’s plane is just the latest in a series of actions taken by the US government to pressure the Maduro regime. In recent years, the US has imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials, including Maduro himself, for their alleged involvement in human rights abuses and corruption.
The DOJ’s seizure of Maduro’s plane is a clear signal that the US is committed to holding the Maduro regime accountable for its actions. It remains to be seen how Maduro will respond to this latest development and what impact it will have on the already strained relations between the two countries.
