Venezuela accused Washington of “piracy” after a jet used by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was reportedly seized in the Dominican Republic and transferred to Florida.
On Monday, the U.S. government confiscated the Dassault Falcon 900EX used by Maduro on official trips, on the grounds that its purchase violates a Trump-era Executive Order that bars U.S. persons from business transactions with Venezuelan government representatives.
The Maduro government reacted by condemning “recurring criminal practices” from the U.S.
“The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela denounces to the international community that once again, the authorities of the United States of America, in a recurring criminal practice that cannot be described as anything other than piracy, has illegally confiscated an aircraft that has been used by the President, justifying itself in the coercive measures that unilaterally and illegally imposes around the world,” read a communiqué published by Caracas in response.
U.S. officials allege the plane was “illegally” purchased via associates for US$13 million through a shell company in late 2022 and “smuggled” from the U.S. to Venezuela via the Caribbean. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe praised the “invaluable assistance” provided by the Dominican Republic, where the plane was stationed for maintenance.
In its statement, U.S. officials boasted of the “global reach” of U.S. sanctions policy.
“The Department will continue to pursue those who violate our sanctions and export controls to prevent them from using American resources to undermine the national security of the United States,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
The effort to confiscate the plane involved several U.S. agencies and officials, including the Department of Justice, the Department of Commerce, and Homeland Security Investigations. U.S. officials allege that the purchase and use of the plane violates Executive Order 13884, signed by former President Donald Trump in August 2019 as part of the “maximum pressure” strategy implemented in order to oust Maduro from power.
The move marks yet another escalation in Washington’s economic measures against Caracas.
“Seizing the foreign head of state’s plane is unheard-of for criminal matters. We’re sending a clear message here that no one is above the law, no one is above the reach of U.S. sanctions,” an unnamed official told CNN.
Venezuela warned that the seizure of the jet was further proof of the US’ disregard for international law.
“This is an example of the supposed ‘rule-based order’ that, disregarding international law, aims to establish the Law of the Jungle, creating rules that conform to their interests and executing them with total impunity,” read the statement.
The Dassault Falcon, bearing tail number T7-ESPRT, was used by Venezuelan government officials, including recent trips to Cuba and Guyana, and was also used in a recent prisoner swap between the U.S. and Venezuela that saw the release of up to 36 people, 10 of them U.S. citizens in exchange for Venezuelan government envoy Alex Saab.
Dominican President Luis Abinader said the plane was not registered under the name of the Venezuelan government but rather an individual. Nevertheless, the plane was for all intents and purposes considered a government vehicle.
The Venezuelan government has of late made frequent use of intermediaries in order to circumvent the unilateral coercive measures imposed on the country by the U.S. Caracas did not provide an explanation as to why the plane had been in the Dominican Republic for an extended period.
The seizure follows increased tensions between Caracas and Washington following the July 28 presidential election that saw the country’s institutions declare Maduro as the winner of another six-year term, set to begin in January 2025. The U.S. Treasury Department is reportedly readying sanctions against 15 high-level Venezuelan officials.
In its statement following the presidential jet confiscation, the Venezuelan government said it was “not an isolated action” and that it reserved the right to take legal action in response.
The Maduro administration had previously denounced the U.S.-requested seizure of a cargo plane owned by Emtrasur, a subsidiary of state airline Conviasa, in mid 2022. The Boeing 747-300 aircraft was grounded by Argentinian authorities and stranded in Buenos Aires for nearly two years before being surrendered to U.S. Marshalls.
Washington likewise argued that the Emtrasur aircraft had been purchased from Iran’s Mahan Air and violated its sanctions policy. The plane was taken to Florida in March and destroyed.
Edited by Ricardo Vaz in Caracas.