VENEZUELA FLAYS US FOR “ILLEGALLY CONFISCATING” NICOLAS MADURO’S PLANE

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has reacted strongly to the move by the United States to seize a plane used by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Caracas says, “in a recurrent criminal practice that can only be described as an act of piracy, (US authorities) has illegally confiscated an aircraft that has been used by the President of the Republic.” The US Department of Justice says the plane was illegally purchased through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States, citing violations of sanctions and export control laws. The Dassault Falcon 900EX was seized in the Dominican Republic and transferred to the custody of federal officials in Florida, according to the Justice Department. The plane was valued at US$13M at the time of purchase in 2023. Venezuela says it “reserves the right to take any legal action to repair this damage to the nation, as well as all other damages caused by the criminal policy of unilateral coercive measures.”