A second plane connected to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is currently under investigation in the Dominican Republic. The aircraft in question, a Dassault Falcon 2000 with registration number YV3360, bears similarities to another plane seized by US authorities earlier this week. Both planes were sent to Santo Domingo for maintenance in recent months, according to a reliable source.
The plane confiscated by US officials on Monday, previously likened to Venezuela's version of Air Force One, had been utilized by Maduro during state visits worldwide. The US seized the aircraft after determining that its acquisition violated sanctions and other criminal regulations. The plane was flown to Florida on Monday, as confirmed by US Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Garland stated that the Justice Department seized the aircraft, which was allegedly purchased illegally for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the US for use by Maduro and his associates. The Venezuelan government denounced the seizure as 'piracy' and accused the US of escalating aggression following a disputed presidential election in July.
The Dominican Republic's President, Luis Abinader, clarified that the plane seized on Monday was not registered under the Venezuelan government but under an individual's name. The Dominican Republic's Attorney General's Office received a court order last May to immobilize the plane for investigation related to fraud, smuggling, and money laundering.
The US officials involved in the seizure emphasized that this action sends a strong message that no one, not even a foreign head of state, is above the law or beyond the reach of US sanctions. The move is part of ongoing efforts to address corruption within Venezuela's government.
Furthermore, the US has urged Venezuela to release specific data regarding the recent presidential election to verify the credibility of Maduro's victory claim. Venezuela's opposition has already published over 80% of voting tallies, suggesting a different outcome from what Maduro asserts.
