The United States has seized a private jet reportedly linked to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The jet, a Falcon 900EX, was confiscated in the Dominican Republic and flown to Florida on Monday, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the seizure, stating, “This morning, 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 Nicolás Maduro and his cronies.” He emphasized the Department’s commitment to preventing the misuse of American resources that could undermine national security.
The investigation revealed that the aircraft was purchased in late 2022 and early 2023, allegedly breaching U.S. export controls and sanctions.
The U.S. government claims that Maduro and his affiliates used a Caribbean-based shell company to conceal their involvement in the illegal purchase of the Dassault Falcon 900EX from a Florida-based company. The jet, bearing tail number T7-ESPRT, was then illegally exported to Venezuela through the Caribbean in April 2023.
Since May 2023, the aircraft has reportedly flown almost exclusively to and from a military base in Venezuela and has been used to transport Maduro on official visits abroad.
The U.S. views this seizure as a critical step in holding Maduro and his associates accountable for violating American laws.
The White House National Security Council described the action as “an important step” in ensuring Maduro faces consequences for his administration’s actions. Markenzy Lapointe, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, acknowledged the significant support from Dominican Republic authorities in facilitating the seizure.
Lapointe affirmed the U.S. government’s dedication to enforcing sanctions and export controls, stating, “The United States’ seizure of the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft illustrates our unrelenting commitment to enforcing U.S. export control laws and imposing U.S. sanctions for any violations.”
