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US seizes Maduro plane, citing sanctions on Venezuela

September 2, 2024

The plane in question is said to have been illegally transported from the US to Venezuela. A US National Security Council spokesperson said the seizure was a "consequence" of Maduro's "misgovernance" of Venezuela.

https://p.dw.com/p/4kCMB
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gives a speech during a rally
The US said the aircraft, used by Venezuelan President Maduro, was purchased in violation of sanctionsImage: Fausto Torrealba/REUTERS

The US government seized a plane used by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the US Justice Department said Monday, citing sanctions violations.

The plane was seized in the Dominican Republic and flown to the southern US state of Florida.

"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 Nicolas Maduro and his cronies," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

This comes as pressure piles up on Maduro both domestically and internationally, following the contested July 28 election, which he claims to have won, but has been widely regarded as a sham. 

The Venezuelan opposition says its vote tallies suggest its candidate opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia was the actual winner.

Why did the US seize the plane?

The aircraft is a Dassault Falcon 900EX. The US says it was illegally transported from the US to Venezuela via the Caribbean in April 2023.

"Maduro and his representatives' have tampered with the results of the July 28 presidential election, falsely claimed victory, and carried out wide-spread repression to maintain power by force," a US National Security Council spokesperson said.

The seizure of the plane "is an important step to ensure that Maduro continues to feel the consequences from his misgovernance of Venezuela," they added.

Venezuela lambasted the seizure of the plane, describing it as "piracy."

"Once again, the authorities of the United States of America are engaged in a criminal practice that cannot be described as anything other than piracy," the Foreign Ministry in Caracas said in a statement.

Election results spark protests

The disputed results of the election have plunged the Latin American nation into a state of turmoil.

At least 23 people have died, dozens injured and thousands detained in the protests that have since ensued.

The United Nations, the US, the European Union and several countries have all condemned the ongoing crackdown on opposition to the election results.

Venezuela's disputed election sparks more protests

rmt/wmr (AFP, Reuters)