The United States confiscated this Monday in the Dominican Republic the official plane of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, based on US sanctions against Venezuela, as CNN exclusively reports.
As two U.S. officials explained to the network: The United States moved the plane to Florida this Monday. “Seizing the plane of the foreign head of state is something unheard of in criminal matters. “We are sending a clear message here: no one is above the law, no one is immune from US sanctions,” one of the officials told CNN.
There is still no official confirmation of what happened, an alleged seizure that occurred after the United States determined that the acquisition of the plane “violated US sanctions, among other criminal matters,” the television channel points out.
The plane, which is estimated to cost around $13 million, I was in the Dominican Republic for the past few months.
Seizure of Venezuela’s presidential plane, a message to Maduro
U.S. officials have not revealed why, but “an opportunity” arose to seize the plane as part of an operation involving multiple federal agencies, which worked “closely with the Dominican Republic, which informed Venezuela of the seizure.”
Authorities described the plane as the Venezuelan equivalent of the Air Force One and they assured that with this seizure The aim is to send “a message to the highest command” of the Venezuelan government.
The aerial vehicle has been photographed during several of Maduro’s state visits around the world. For years, the U.S. government has confiscated dozens of luxury vehicles, among other goods, bound for Venezuela, but never one of such importance and symbolism.
Last April, the United States partially reversed sanctions relief on Venezuelan oil and gas, accusing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of failing to fulfill his election promises by disqualifying opposition candidate María Corina Machado.
USA, waiting for the crisis after the elections
Since the Venezuelan elections On July 28, the United States was very critical of the Maduro government.
Last week, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the government’s continued refusal National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela to defend international and Venezuelan standards of transparency constitutes an “unacceptable violation” of the country’s laws.
His statement, released a month after Venezuela’s July 28 elections, also criticizes the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), “controlled by (Venezuelan President Nicolás) Maduro,’s attempt to silence the voice of voters ratifying the CNE’s unfounded announcement of a Maduro victory.”
In response, the Venezuelan government assured that it “did not owe any explanations” to the United States about the situation. re-election of Nicolas Maduro.
In the Caribbean country’s view, the US State Department “persists in its despicable position of getting involved in issues that do not concern it,” said Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil.
