U.S. authorities have seized a Dassault Falcon 900EX (registration T7-ESPRT) aircraft in the Dominican Republic, used by Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, after determining that its acquisition violated U.S. sanctions and was involved in other criminal matters. According to officials, the aircraft was flown to Florida on Monday, CNN reports.
The plane had arrived at La Isabela Airport in Santo Domingo in early March for unknown reasons. In May, Dominican authorities seized the Dassault Falcon and prohibited its departure from the country. This morning, after U.S. action, it took off from there at 9:37 AM and landed at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) at 11:28 AM.
Before becoming part of the Venezuelan dictatorship’s fleet (although officially not state-owned), this aircraft, manufactured in 1996, was registered as N900SJ. After its acquisition, it was re-registered in San Marino.
This act marks an escalation in the tensions between the United States and Venezuela, as the plane was seized in the Dominican Republic in collaboration with local authorities. The seized aircraft, which has been compared to the U.S. Air Force One, has been used on multiple official visits by Maduro abroad.
“This action demonstrates that no one is above the law, not even a foreign head of state,” a U.S. official told CNN. “Seizing an aircraft of this level is an unprecedented step in criminal matters,” he added.
The seizure operation involved various federal agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Department of Justice. It has been noted that the aircraft, valued at approximately $13 million, had been stationed in the Dominican Republic for months, facilitating its confiscation.
In the coming days, the United States will begin the forfeiture process of the aircraft, giving Venezuela the opportunity to appeal. Additionally, evidence will be collected from the aircraft to support ongoing legal actions.
This incident comes at a time when the United States has increased pressure on the Maduro government, demanding transparency in Venezuela’s recent presidential elections. Earlier this year, Washington reimposed sanctions on Venezuela’s energy sector in response to the lack of free and fair elections.
The situation in Venezuela has led around 8 million people to flee the country, seeking refuge elsewhere, including in the United States and neighboring countries. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities continue their efforts to block illicit financial flows that sustain the Maduro regime, having seized assets worth more than $2 billion in recent years.
See also: Venezuela extends suspension of flights to Panama, Dominican Republic, and Peru by one month
