US suddenly confiscated Venezuelan President's plane, asserting that no one is "outside US sanctions"

The Venezuelan leader's plane was seized by the US while undergoing maintenance in the Dominican Republic because it violated Washington's sanctions against Caracas.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's plane was seized in the Dominican Republic and taken to the US. (Source: AFP)

CNN on September 2 quoted US officials confirming that Washington had confiscated Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's plane in the Dominican Republic on the grounds that the vehicle violated Washington's sanctions against Caracas.

"The aircraft was seized due to violations of US sanctions against Venezuela and other criminal matters that we are still reviewing," said Anthony Salisbury, an official with the US Homeland Security Investigations agency.

The plane was flown to Florida, a move that “sends a clear message” that no one is “above the US sanctions,” a US official said.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland said more specifically: " The Department of Justice has seized an aircraft allegedly illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his cronies."

Mr. Maduro uses this plane for international trips. The plane is likened to the US's "Air Force One".

The plane “almost exclusively flew to and from a military base in Venezuela,” according to flight records. The last registered flight was in March, flying from Caracas to the Dominican capital Santo Domingo.

The seizure of the plane was carried out in coordination with US and Dominican authorities. A senior Dominican official said that the plane was in Dominican territory for maintenance before it was seized. Dominican authorities informed Venezuela about the seizure.

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