An aircraft used by state-owned Venezuelan natural gas company occupied the interests of the regime of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro in the Dominican Republic on Thursday to evade U.S. sanctions and export control laws.
Marco Rubio visited Caribbean countries to talk to the president when a Dassault Falcon 2000EX aircraft was seized by Venezuela (PDVSA), a state-owned oil and gas company.
“The seizure of this Venezuelan aircraft to evade U.S. sanctions and money laundering is a powerful example of our determination to hold the private Maduro regime responsible for its illegal acts,” Rubio wrote on X.
“Along with the Dominican Republic and our regional partners, we will continue to offset any plans to evade our sanctions.”
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Rights, Listen to Edwin F. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
The seizure stemmed from an executive order during the 2019 President Donald Trump’s presidency to prohibit U.S. citizens from trading with anyone who works for or on behalf of PDVSA. In January 2020, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Ministry of Finance identified 15 aircraft that belong to the order.
The Justice Department said PDVSA purchased the aircraft from the United States in July 2017 and exported it to Venezuela, where it was registered under tail number YV-3360.
Authorities say the aircraft is still using the U.S. for maintenance and maintenance multiple times despite sanctions imposed on PDVSA. The service includes brake components, electronic flight displays and flight management computers, all in violation of U.S. export control and sanctions laws.
At a press conference, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio placed a “seizure” sign on a Venezuelan government plane, at which U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Thursday The attack was announced at La Isabela International Airport in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
“Air use of parts made in the United States for aircraft operated by approved entities such as PDVSA are unbearable,” said Devin Distark, head of the Justice Department’s national security department.
“The Department of Justice and its federal law enforcement partners will continue to maintain our national security by identifying U.S. goods designed to violate our sanctions and export control laws.”
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This photo released by the Venezuelan President’s Press Office shows Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, right, with President Donald Trump’s special envoy Richard Grenell ( Richard Grenell) shakes hands at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, Venezuela on January 31, 2025. (Venezuelan Presidential Press Office, through the Associated Press)
The aircraft was allegedly used for its use, and has been used to lead Venezuelan oil minister Manuel Salvador Salvador Quevedo Fernandez to the OPEC conference in the United Arab Emirates and has been used Come to transport senior members of the Maduro regime.
The Justice Department said the aircraft was used to continue the regime’s misappropriation of PDVSA assets.
In September, a plane owned by Maduro was also caught in the Dominican Republic. The Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) will drive the Dassault Falcon 900EX back to the United States soon after.
“Asset forfeiture is a powerful law enforcement tool and we will continue to actively use it to stop, destroy and combat criminal activities,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne.
Maduro occupied the plane on Fort Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and flew from the Dominican Republic. The plane was occupied in September 2024. (wfor)
Maduro began his third term as president last month, despite widespread doubts about the legitimacy of his election victory.
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International and domestic critics question the fairness of the election process. Maduro declares victory More than 1 million votes. But opposition candidate Edmundogonzález is widely believed to have been won by a landslide.
