By Abiola Olawale
The United States has seized an aeroplane belonging to Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro.
This was revealed in a statement issued by the US Justice Department on Monday.
The Justice Department revealed that it seized the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft.
In a statement issued by the DOJ, Attorney General Merrick Garland alleges the plane was “illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by Nicolás Maduro and his cronies.”
The Department of Justice said the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft owned and operated for the benefit of Maduro and persons affiliated with him in Venezuela was seized in the Dominican Republic and transferred to Fort Lauderdale at the request of the United States based on violations of U.S. export control and sanctions laws.
The Justice Department said it worked with the Dominican Republic to seize the plane and transfer it to Florida.
This comes after the government of the US placed numerous sanctions on Venezuelan companies and individuals, including Maduro, for alleged corruption and human rights abuses, among other things.
