In a bold move that has sent shockwaves through international diplomatic circles, the Biden-Harris administration has taken possession of a private aircraft belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The plane, often referred to as Venezuela's Air Force One, was intercepted in the Dominican Republic and subsequently transported to Florida.
According to The Post Millennial, the seizure was orchestrated by a coalition of federal agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Justice, and Commerce agents within the Bureau of Industry and Security. These agencies justified their actions by asserting that the plane's ownership was in violation of U.S. sanctions.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told CNN, This sends a message all the way up to the top. Seizing the foreign head of states plane is unheard-of for criminal matters. Were sending a clear message here that no one is above the law, no one is above the reach of U.S. sanctions. This statement underscores the administration's commitment to enforcing the rule of law, even when it involves high-ranking foreign officials.
The aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 900-EX, is estimated to be worth approximately $13 million and is frequently used by Maduro for state visits around the globe. The Biden-Harris administration has yet to disclose the specific reasons behind the seizure, but it is clear that the plane's landing in the Dominican Republic presented an opportune moment for the action.
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin shed further light on the situation, stating, NEW: Per U.S. official, the U.S. has seized Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro's airplane in the Dominican Republic, and HSI flew it back to the U.S. in Fort Lauderdale, FL this morning. I'm told the $13 million plane is Maduro's version of Air Force One, used for state visits around the world, and it was seized in violation of sanctions laws and export controls, specifically, a violation of US executive order 13884, signed by President Trump in 2019.
The seizure is a clear indication of the frosty relations between the US and Venezuela, which have been strained in recent years. It also serves as a stark reminder of the far-reaching implications of US sanctions and the lengths to which the Biden-Harris administration is willing to go to uphold them.
Login