US seizes Maduro's jet: escalating tensions with Venezuela

The US seized a plane owned by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, claiming it was illegally purchased for $13m (£9.8m) and taken out of the country.

The US Justice Department reported that the Falcon 900EX aircraft was seized in the Dominican Republic and transferred to Florida.

The circumstances surrounding the plane's arrival in the Dominican Republic remain uncertain.

The tracking data indicated that the flight departed from La Isabela airport near the capital, Santo Domingo, on Monday and promptly arrived at Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida.

Venezuela strongly condemned the seizure, describing it as "piracy."

According to Foreign Minister Yván Gil, the US has defended its actions by citing the coercive measures it unilaterally and illegally imposes globally.

According to an official statement, the Venezuelan government has declared its intention to take necessary legal measures to address the harm caused to the nation.

US officials say the plane was seized due to suspected violations of US export control and sanctions laws.

According to sources, an investigation has revealed that individuals connected to Mr Maduro reportedly utilized a shell company based in the Caribbean to conceal their role in illegally acquiring the plane.

The purchase was made from a Florida-based company from late 2022 to early 2023.

In April 2023, the aircraft was unlawfully transported from the United States to Venezuela via the Caribbean.

US officials claim that the plane's sale and export violated US sanctions, but President Maduro is unlikely to be convinced. He has consistently accused the US of interfering in his country's internal matters.

A White House National Security Council representative stated that the action taken was a significant measure to hold Maduro accountable for his mismanagement of Venezuela.

The US attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, expressed gratitude for the invaluable assistance the Dominican Republic authorities provided in coordinating the seizure.

According to data from the Flightradar24 website, the plane seemed to have been flown to the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, after arriving in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in April 2023.

According to US officials, the aircraft primarily operated flights to and from a military base in Venezuela. The details surrounding the plane's arrival in the Dominican Republic remain uncertain.

According to US officials, Mr. Maduro has utilized the jet during his visits to other countries.

The Venezuelan government temporarily suspended commercial flights to the Dominican Republic and Panama in late July. This decision followed Mr. Maduro's controversial re-election.

According to recent polling data released by Venezuela's opposition, their unity candidate, Edmundo González, has emerged as the clear winner. Despite his victory, an electoral council aligned with Mr Maduro has refused to acknowledge it.

The European Union has declined to acknowledge Maduro's victory in the July election until voting results are provided.

Some Latin American countries have also refrained from offering their support, including President Lula of Brazil, who was once an ally of Mr. Maduro. President Lula is among those urging the Venezuelan government to prioritize full transparency.

Mr González has been officially recognized as the winner by the US, who claim that there is substantial evidence supporting Maduro's defeat.

Mr Maduro and Venezuela's government have faced previous scrutiny from US federal authorities regarding alleged corruption.

In 2020, the Justice Department brought charges against Mr. Maduro and 14 Venezuelan officials. The charges included narco-terrorism, corruption, and drug trafficking, among others.

The State Department has announced a reward of up to $15m for any valuable information that could lead to Mr Maduro's arrest or conviction.