The U.S. Justice Department has seized an aircraft owned by Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro in the Dominican Republic.
The plane, a Dassault Falcon 900EX, was reportedly purchased for $13 million through a shell company associated with Maduro and illegally exported from the United States in violation of U.S. sanctions and export control laws.
The seizure was carried out by U.S. authorities with assistance from the Dominican Republic, and the plane has since been transferred to Florida.
The Justice Department alleges that the aircraft was used for the benefit of Maduro and his associates, including for travel to other countries.
This action is part of the broader U.S. sanctions regime aimed at pressuring the Venezuelan government.
This development underscores the ongoing tension between the United States and Venezuela, as Washington continues to impose and enforce sanctions against the Maduro regime in an effort to weaken its grip on power.