In a significant move that underscores the ongoing tension between the United States and Venezuela, federal authorities in South Florida have seized a jet frequently used by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The operation, carried out on Monday morning, highlights the U.S. government’s relentless pursuit of enforcing sanctions against the embattled leader and his administration.
The aircraft in question is a Dassault Falcon 900EX, a French-built corporate jet known for its distinctive blue and red stripes on a white body. This plane, reportedly utilized by Maduro for both personal and professional purposes, was flown into Fort Lauderdale’s executive airport from the Dominican Republic, where it had previously been detained. The coordinated effort involved multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Commerce, with Homeland Security Investigations leading the charge in bringing the plane to U.S. soil.
This jet has been a frequent flyer in the skies of Latin America, with documented stops in locations like St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Cuba, and Brazil—often with Maduro himself on board. Currently, the aircraft appears to be registered in the European microstate of San Marino, identifiable by the T7 prefix on its registration, which is characteristic of planes registered in this landlocked republic within Italy.
The seizure of this jet is not just about taking down a piece of machinery; it represents the latest escalation in the fraught relations between the United States and Venezuela. Tensions have been particularly high following Venezuela’s recent elections, where Maduro’s victory was marred by widespread allegations of fraud. Opposition groups and international observers have pointed to significant irregularities, casting doubt on the legitimacy of Maduro’s regime.
The tangled web of ownership surrounding the plane further complicates the situation. According to records from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the plane’s registration in the U.S. was canceled back in January 2023 when it was reportedly exported to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The records indicate that a Florida-based company sold the aircraft to a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in St. Vincent, but curiously, there seems to be no record of this company in the Caribbean nation’s registry. Shortly after this transaction, the plane was quickly exported to San Marino.
This complex sale process raises serious questions about potential violations of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela. These sanctions were put in place as part of a broader strategy to isolate Maduro’s government and target its financial lifelines. The possibility that this sale involved a third country, like St. Vincent and the Grenadines, adds another layer of intrigue—and potential legal implications—especially given the country’s Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves’ public congratulations to Maduro following his contested electoral victory.
But this isn’t the first time U.S. authorities have gone after aircraft linked to regimes they deem hostile. Earlier this year, the U.S. government seized a Boeing cargo plane in the Miami area. This plane, a 747-300M, was sold by Iran’s Mahan Air—an airline sanctioned by the U.S. for its ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a designated terrorist organization. The plane was sold to a Venezuelan company in violation of U.S. export control laws, and its seizure followed a similar pattern of U.S. enforcement actions targeting both Iranian and Venezuelan interests.
The broader context of these seizures is the U.S. government’s ongoing campaign against corruption within the Venezuelan regime. Since 2017, Homeland Security Investigations, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, has seized over half a billion dollars in assets. These assets include luxury real estate, high-end vehicles, expensive watches, and even a super-yacht—belonging to top Venezuelan officials and businessmen who have been implicated in bribery and currency manipulation schemes, often involving Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA.
Most of those charged in these cases have been convicted of laundering the illicit proceeds through banking systems in the U.S., Switzerland, and other countries. However, a few remain at large, either awaiting trial or having passed away while under indictment.
The seizure of Maduro’s jet is yet another chapter in the ongoing saga of U.S.-Venezuela relations, marked by sanctions, legal battles, and diplomatic strain. As the United States continues to tighten the noose around Maduro’s regime, actions like this plane seizure send a clear message: the U.S. is committed to holding the Venezuelan government accountable, using every tool at its disposal.
