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US seizes Venezuelan President Maduro's plane, DOJ says
By Luke BarrLauren Peller,
3 hours ago
The U.S. has seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's plane, the Justice Department announced on Monday.
A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led investigation discovered the plane in the Dominican Republic, a source said.
After the U.S. government seized the plane, it was flown to Florida on Monday, according to the source. Maduro was no on board, the source said.
The plane is the Venezuelan equivalent to Air Force One, and flight records show it is a Dassault 900.
Pedro Rances Mattey/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro gestures as he delivers a speech during a rally in Caracas, on Aug. 28, 2024.
"This morning, the Justice Department seized an aircraft we allege 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," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. "The Department will continue to pursue those who violate our sanctions and export controls to prevent them from using American resources to undermine the national security of the United States."
The head HSI agent in Miami also lauded the seizure.
"The seizure of this aircraft is another significant action by Homeland Security Investigations working with our domestic and international partners against the illegal activities of the Maduro regime," said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami.
Cristobal Herrera-Ulashkevich/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock - PHOTO: Officers stand in front of an airplane that, according to the authorities, belongs to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Sept. 2, 2024.
Earlier, a U.S. National Security Council spokesperson confirmed the seizure of "an aircraft used by Maduro and his representatives."
"Over the past month, as demonstrated by a wide variety of independent sources, Maduro and his representatives' have tampered with the results of the July 28 presidential election, falsely claimed victory, and carried out wide-spread repression to maintain power by force," the spokesperson said.
Cristobal Herrera-Ulashkevich/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock - PHOTO: Officers extract boxes labeled as evidence from an airplane that, according to the authorities, belongs to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Sept. 2, 2024.
"Last week, one of Venezuela's own National Electoral Council rectors further validated that Maduro has provided no evidence that he won this election. The United States, in coordination with our partners, is working to ensure that the will of the Venezuelan people, as expressed through the July 28 election, is respected," the spokesperson said.
"Today, the U.S. Department of Justice took action to enforce U.S. sanctions -- seizing an aircraft used by Maduro and his representatives. This is an important step to ensure that Maduro continues to feel the consequences from his misgovernance of Venezuela," the spokesperson said.
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