The United States has seized Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro’s airplane on grounds of violating US sanctions and other criminal issues. The aircraft was flown to Florida on Monday, marking a significant escalation in the frosty relationship between the two countries. The US officials involved stated that seizing a foreign head of state’s plane for criminal matters is unprecedented and sends a clear message that no one is above the law or US sanctions.
The nearly $13 million Dassault Falcon 900, comparable to Venezuela’s Air Force One, was seized with the collaboration of multiple US federal agencies and the Dominican Republic authorities. Venezuela, known for its corruption, has faced numerous accusations of drug trafficking and corruption. In 2020, Maduro was charged by the US Department of Justice for narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, with a $15 million reward for his arrest or conviction.
This seizure further underscores the US commitment to holding Venezuelan officials accountable for their alleged criminal activities, emphasizing that no one is exempt from facing justice.
