Argentine court grants U.S. request to seize Iranian-Venezuelan Boeing 747-300M suspected of espionage

The federal prosecutor Cecilia Incardona supported a request from the United States to confiscate a Boeing 747-300M from the Venezuelan company EMTRASUR Cargo, transferred from the Iranian company Mahan Air. The aircraft, under suspicion of illegal espionage, has been detained for over a year at the Ezeiza Airport in Argentina.

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The case, overseen by Judge Federico Villena, involves the plane that landed in Argentina a year and a half ago with a crew made up of Venezuelan and Iranian nationals. Since June last year, the plane has been detained at the Ezeiza Airport. The U.S. request aligns with the International Legal Assistance Treaty between Argentina and the United States.

“Respecting the treaty implies complying with the seizure,” Incardona declared, referring to the International Legal Assistance Treaty. “Acting otherwise could result in international liability for the Argentine Republic,” she added, emphasizing the seriousness of non-compliance.

Basis for the seizure request

According to reports by La Nación, Incardona cited unauthorized transfers involving the plane as the main reason for the seizure. It is alleged that Mahan Air, an Iranian airline, transferred the Boeing aircraft to the Venezuelan airline EMTRASUR, which then re-exported it to destinations including Iran and Russia, in violation of U.S. law.

The Boeing of Emtrasur landed at the Ezeiza Airport on June 6, 2022, raising suspicions of espionage by its Venezuelan and Iranian crew. The U.S. claims that the transaction violated a law that prohibits dealings with entities suspected of terrorism.

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The Venezuelan government has requested the return of the plane, but Argentine authorities ordered its seizure following a federal appeal. Judge Villena later acquitted most of the crew members but continued the investigation on others, allowing them to leave the country.

EMTRASUR’s 747 detained in Buenos Aires: US Attorney requests immediate execution of seizure