US Seizes Venezuelan Government Plane in Dominican Republic

dominican republic - The US seizes a plane used by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the Dominican Republic for violating sanctions.

US Seizes Venezuelan Government Plane

The US government seized a plane used by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the Dominican Republic, citing sanctions violations. The seizure took place during a visit by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the Dominican Republic. The US State Department stated that the aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 200 belonging to Venezuela, was seized for violating sanctions and export controls, as well as for potential money laundering activities.

The aircraft, reportedly used by senior officials of the Maduro government for travels to Greece, Turkey, Russia, Nicaragua, and Cuba, was confiscated at La Isabela International Airport in Santo Domingo.

Secretary Rubio emphasized the US's commitment to holding the Maduro regime accountable for its illegal actions, stating that the seizure of the Venezuelan aircraft used to evade sanctions and money laundering is a strong example of this determination. He also expressed readiness to resist any plans aimed at circumventing US sanctions alongside the Dominican Republic and regional partners.

This incident marks another escalation in the tensions between Venezuela and the US, with Maduro's 2024 election victory being widely rejected by the opposition, international observers, and several countries including the US. The Maduro government continues to denounce US-led sanctions as illegitimate measures designed to economically undermine Venezuela.