By James Myers, OAN Staff
Monday, September 2, 2024 1:24 PM
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's plane has been seized by US authorities in the Dominican Republic, according to multiple reports.
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The Justice Department determined the missiles were acquired in violation of U.S. sanctions and other criminal matters, two U.S. officials said. CNN.
The United States flew a Dassault Falcon 900, the aircraft photographed accompanying Maduro on state visits around the world, to Florida on Monday.
“This sends a message all the way to the top,” one U.S. official said. CNN.
“The seizure of a foreign head of state's aircraft on a criminal matter is unprecedented. We are here sending a clear message that no one is above the law and no one is beyond the reach of U.S. sanctions.”
The plane is estimated to be worth nearly $13 million.
However, it is unclear why the plane has remained in the Dominican Republic for the past few months.
The seizure of the plane was carried out by multiple agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Commerce, the Bureau of Industry and Security and the Department of Justice. CNN He said.
The United States is also working closely with the Dominican Republic, which has notified Venezuela about the seizure, one U.S. official said.
The next steps will be confiscation, which will give the Venezuelan government an opportunity to petition for the plane's return, and the collection of evidence from the plane. CNN.
The seizure comes amid continuing tensions between the United States and Venezuela, as the United States investigates the election results and the Venezuelan government's alleged influence on them.
The United States said last month there was no evidence that Maduro won July's presidential election.
Additionally, the United States reimposed sanctions on Venezuela's oil and gas sector earlier this year in response to the Maduro regime's refusal to recognize fair elections.
Controversial July 28thNumber Following the election, Venezuela suspended commercial air traffic with the Dominican Republic.
The dire situation in Venezuela is having a major impact on the United States, with millions of migrants choosing to leave their home country and cross the US-Mexico border.
Meanwhile, 7.7 million people have fled Venezuela as of June 2024, making it the largest refugee population currently in the Western Hemisphere.
“These officials and the Maduro regime are essentially extracting money from the Venezuelan people for their own profit,” the U.S. official said. CNN.
“While some people can't even afford a loaf of bread, the president of Venezuela flies around in a luxury private jet.”
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