Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro. Photo | Courtesy.
Plane belonging to Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro seized by the US on Monday according to the United States Justice Department.
The seized plane a Dassault 900 worth $13m is said to have been acquired illegally between end of 2022 and early 2023 by Nicolas Maduro via a shell company based in the Caribbean which violated Us export control and sanction laws. The plane was seized in the Dominican Republic and was then flown to Florida.
“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.
This firm stance against Maduro comes after his controversial re-election in the July 28 Presidential election in which he could not provide evidence of his victory.
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In 2020 the United States Justice Department had placed a $15m reward for information that could lead to Maduro’s arrest after he and 14 other officials were charged with drug trafficking, corruption and narco terrorism.
“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,” said a U.S. National Security Council spokesperson.
