(24 News) The United States seized the plane of the president of the rival country Venezuela.
According to foreign news agency CNN, the United States seized the plane of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in violation of sanctions in the Dominican Republic. The seized plane was transferred to Florida on Monday, between the United States and Venezuela. For a long time, relations have been cold and this process has created the fear of further deterioration in these relations.
U.S. officials have described the plane as the equivalent of Venezuela’s Air Force One, and it has been photographed around the world during Maduro’s previous state visits, CNN quoted a U.S. official as saying. “The message has been sent,” he said. “Seizing the plane of a foreign head of state is the biggest criminal action ever taken. It’s a clear message that no one is above the law, no one is above US sanctions.” is not’.
For years, US officials have been trying to disrupt the flow of billions of dollars to the Venezuelan government. Homeland Security Investigations, the federal government’s second largest investigative agency, has seized dozens of luxury vehicles, among other assets, bound for Venezuela.
The plane the US seized is a Dassault Falcon 900, worth about $13 million according to flight records, which had been based in the Dominican Republic in recent months. US officials did not say why the plane was there, but the country offered US authorities the opportunity to seize the plane.
Several U.S. federal agencies were involved in the seizure, including Homeland Security Investigations, commerce agents, the Bureau of Industry and Security and the Department of Justice, according to one U.S. official. The US has recently pressured Venezuela’s government to “immediately” release specific data on its presidential election, citing strongman Maduro’s victory. Concerns were cited about
Earlier this year, the United States reimposed sanctions on Venezuela’s oil and gas sector in response to the Maduro government’s failure to allow “an inclusive and competitive election,” following Maduro’s re-election on July 28. , Venezuela suspended commercial flights to and from the Dominican Republic.
2024-09-02 23:08:17