US Seizes Plane Used by Venezuela's President Maduro

The U.S. on Sept. 2 seized a "Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft," which is owned and operated to benefit Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and those associated with him, DOJ announced. The plane was seized in the Dominican Republic and sent to Florida related to alleged export control and sanctions violations.

In late 2022 and early 2023, individuals linked with the Maduro regime allegedly used a shell company based in the Caribbean to hide their involvement in the "illegal purchase of the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft," valued at the time at around $13 million, from a South Florida company, DOJ said. The plane was shipped from the U.S. to Venezuela via the Caribbean in April 2023.

Since its purchase, the aircraft has "flown almost exclusively to and from a military base in Venezuela and has been used for the benefit of Maduro and his representatives," DOJ said. The Bureau of Industry and Security Miami Field Office and the Homeland Security Investigations El Dorado Task Force Miami investigated the case.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said that he welcomes the seizure but believes it will do little to alter the “corrupt and destabilizing rule” of Venezuela's government. He said stronger measures, including revoking Venezuela’s oil licenses, are needed to "cut off all lifelines for the Maduro regime."