The United States has seized a plane owned by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in the Dominican Republic. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) flew Maduro’s personal plane back to the United States, where it landed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is now in U.S. custody. The plane, described as Maduro’s version of “Air Force One,” was seized for being purchased through a straw company in violation of sanctions laws and export controls, specifically violating U.S. executive order 13884 signed by former President Donald Trump in 2019. The Dassault Falcon 900-EX plane, valued at $13 million, was seized as a result of a joint investigation between HSI and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that the Justice Department seized the aircraft believed to have been illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by Nicolás Maduro and his associates. The Department of Commerce also commented that any aircraft illegally acquired from the United States for the benefit of sanctioned Venezuelan officials cannot just fly off, emphasizing their commitment to identifying and returning such assets. The seizure is expected to strain relations between the U.S. and Venezuela further, as it aligns with Trump’s executive order prohibiting transactions with individuals associated with the Maduro regime, aiming to protect U.S. national security and interests.
According to U.S. investigators, persons affiliated with Maduro allegedly used a Caribbean-based shell company to conceal their involvement in the illegal purchase of the plane from a company in Florida. The aircraft, which was valued at $13 million, was illegally exported from the U.S. to Venezuela through the Caribbean in April 2023. Since then, the Dassault Falcon has been primarily used to transport Maduro and his representatives, flying to and from a military base in Venezuela. The Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security Miami Field Office, alongside the DHS, HSI El Dorado Task Force Miami, are investigating the case.
The U.S. authorities have emphasized their determination to prevent those who violate sanctions and export controls from using American resources to undermine national security. U.S. Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew Axelrod highlighted that the seizure of the aircraft serves as a clear message that planes illegally acquired and benefiting sanctioned Venezuelan officials will not be allowed to operate freely. With the establishment of export controls, the U.S. aims to prevent goods intended for Venezuelan military or military-intelligence end-users from leaving the country. The joint efforts of HSI and the Department of Commerce in investigating and seizing the plane demonstrate the U.S. government’s commitment to upholding its sanctions and export control policies.
The seizure of Maduro’s personal plane marks a significant move by the U.S. in its efforts to curb the activities of the Maduro regime and prevent the misuse of American resources. The use of a shell company to illegally purchase the aircraft and circumvent export controls underscores the lengths to which individuals associated with sanctioned officials go to violate international laws. By seizing the Dassault Falcon 900-EX and returning it to U.S. custody, the U.S. is sending a strong message to those who engage in such illicit activities, reinforcing its commitment to upholding sanctions and export controls to safeguard national security interests.
