The US has seized a plane belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, alleging that it was purchased illegally for $13 million (£9.8 million) and smuggled out of Venezuela. The Falcon 900EX aircraft was captured in the Dominican Republic and has been transferred to Florida. The exact details of how the plane ended up in the Dominican Republic remain unclear. Tracking data shows it departed La Isabela airport near Santo Domingo on Monday and arrived shortly after at Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida. Venezuela has condemned the seizure as an act of "piracy." Foreign Minister Yván Gil criticized the US for justifying the action through "coercive measures" that it imposes unilaterally and illegally worldwide. The Venezuelan government has stated it "reserves the right to take any legal action to repair this damage to the nation." US officials argue that the plane was seized due to suspected violations of US export control and sanctions laws. Investigations revealed that individuals linked to Maduro allegedly used a Caribbean-based shell company to conceal their involvement in the plane's illegal purchase from a Florida-based company in late 2022 and early 2023. The aircraft was then unlawfully exported from the US to Venezuela via the Caribbean in April 2023.

Despite these claims, President Maduro, who has frequently accused the US of interfering in Venezuelan affairs, is unlikely to view the sanctions violation argument favorably. A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council described the action as "an important step to ensure that Maduro continues to feel the consequences from his misgovernance of Venezuela." Markenzy Lapointe, US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, commended the Dominican Republic authorities for their "invaluable assistance" in the seizure operation. Matthew S. Axelrod from the Department of Commerce emphasized that the US will work with global partners to identify and recover any aircraft smuggled illegally. Tracking data indicates that the plane was flown to Caracas after arriving in Kingston, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, in April 2023, and subsequently operated mostly between military bases in Venezuela. The exact timing and manner of its arrival in the Dominican Republic remain unknown. The Venezuelan government had suspended commercial flights to the Dominican Republic and Panama in late July following Maduro’s controversial re-election. Opposition leader Edmundo González's claimed victory has not been recognized by an electoral council loyal to Maduro. The European Union and several Latin American countries, including Brazil's former ally President Lula, have called for transparency in the Venezuelan election process. The US recognizes González as the winner, citing "overwhelming" evidence of Maduro's defeat. This is not the first time Maduro has been targeted by US authorities; in 2020, the Justice Department charged him and 14 officials with narco-terrorism, corruption, and drug trafficking. The State Department has also offered a $15 million reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest or conviction.