Media Wire Express Correspondent
The United States has confiscated a Dassault Falcon 900EX jet previously used by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, relocating it from the Dominican Republic to Florida.
The US Justice Department announced the seizure on Monday, stating that the plane’s acquisition breached US sanctions.
This action occurs amidst heightened international scrutiny of Maduro’s administration, particularly following the contentious presidential election on July 28. While Maduro claims to have won, opposition groups argue their vote counts show a different result. Notably, Maduro was not aboard the plane during its seizure.
The Venezuelan government has condemned the seizure as “piracy” and labeled it a “repeated criminal practice” by the United States. They argue that the US is engaging in illegal actions with this latest move.
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US Attorney General Merrick Garland explained that the aircraft, valued at $13 million, was purchased through a shell company and illegally exported from the US for use by Maduro and his associates. Garland emphasized that this seizure serves to demonstrate the US’s commitment to enforcing sanctions and holding those who flout them accountable.
Matthew Axelrod, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the US Commerce Department, supported this stance, asserting that such violations will not be tolerated. “Aircraft obtained unlawfully from the United States for the benefit of sanctioned Venezuelan officials will not be permitted to evade scrutiny,” Axelrod stated.
