The United States has seized a Falcon 900EX private jet linked to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, alleging the aircraft was purchased illegally for $13 million and smuggled out of Venezuela. The plane was intercepted in the Dominican Republic before being transferred to Florida.
The U.S. Justice Department reported that the plane was acquired through a Caribbean shell company tied to Maduro’s associates, who allegedly disguised their role in the aircraft’s illegal purchase from a Florida-based company between late 2022 and early 2023. Authorities maintain that the jet was subsequently exported unlawfully from the U.S. to Venezuela in April 2023.
Tracking data revealed the jet’s departure from La Isabela airport in the Dominican Republic on Monday, arriving shortly thereafter at Fort Lauderdale airport. Despite the seizure, there has been no immediate response from Maduro or his government regarding the incident.
U.S. officials assert that the aircraft’s acquisition and subsequent export violated U.S. export control and sanctions laws. A representative from the White House’s National Security Council stated that this action represents a significant step in ensuring Maduro faces consequences for his governance in Venezuela.
Markenzy Lapointe, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, praised the Dominican Republic’s assistance in the seizure operation. Matthew S. Axelrod from the Commerce Department emphasized the commitment to tracking down and reclaiming any aircraft smuggled from the United States, regardless of the status of its owner.
The seized aircraft had reportedly been used by Maduro for international visits after its alleged smuggling back to Venezuela, where U.S. officials noted it primarily operated from a military base. Additionally, outcry surrounding Maduro’s recent re-election has led the Venezuelan government to suspend commercial flights to the Dominican Republic and Panama temporarily.
This incident is not an isolated one; in 2020, U.S. authorities charged Maduro and several officials with serious crimes, including narco-terrorism. The U.S. State Department has even offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest or conviction.
