US seizes Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro’s airplane

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U.S. Government Seizes Aircraft Linked to Nicolás Maduro In a significant move on Monday, the U.S. government seized an airplane tied to Nicolás Maduro, the leader of Venezuela. The aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 900EX, was flown to Florida after being confiscated due to violations of U.S. sanctions, according to a statement from the Justice Department.  ► Subscribe to Headlinecast for the latest video updates. It's free! - https://www.youtube.com/@Headline-Cast  ► More Videos -  https://youtube.com/@Headline-Cast   ►Visit our Website  -  https://www.headlinecast.com  Follow ET on: ► Website      -  https://headlinecast.com ► Facebook   -  https://facebook.com/headlinecast ► X                  -  https://x.com/HeadlineCast ► Medium      -  https://medium.com/@HeadlineCast ► Instagram  -  https://instagram.com/headlinecast ► linkedin      -   https://www.linkedin.com/in/headlinecast/  ► READ MORE ABOUT THIS VIDEO -   Why the Seizure Happened The Biden administration has been ramping up pressure on Maduro, who is accused of undermining the results of Venezuela’s recent presidential election. By seizing the aircraft, the U.S. aims to send a clear message: attempts to evade American sanctions will not be tolerated.  The plane, originally purchased in the United States for $13 million through a shell company, was being used by Maduro and his associates. U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland highlighted that the seizure reflects the U.S.'s commitment to enforcing its sanctions.  The Role of U.S. Agencies The operation to seize the plane was a coordinated effort, led by the Justice Department with support from the Homeland Security and Commerce Departments. Matthew S. Axelrod, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the Commerce Department, emphasized that this action serves as a warning to those attempting to illegally acquire U.S. assets for sanctioned officials.  The plane was confiscated while undergoing maintenance in the Dominican Republic and was then flown to Florida. CNN footage later showed the sleek white jet, accented with red stripes, resting on a tarmac.  The Broader Context: Venezuela's Political Turmoil The seizure is just one aspect of the ongoing tension between the U.S. and Maduro’s government. The Biden administration has accused Maduro of clinging to power illegally by rejecting the results of the July 28 presidential election, in which his opponent, Edmundo González, was declared the winner. #Venezuela #Maduro #USSanctions #BidenAdministration #JusticeDepartment #AircraftSeizure #NicolásMaduro #PoliticalCrisis #VenezuelanPolitics #USGovernment #InternationalRelations #GlobalPolitics #Sanctions #Diplomacy #WhiteHouse #VenezuelaCrisis #HumanRights #LatinAmerica #Dictatorship #Democracy #VenezuelanElection #USForeignPolicy #Geopolitics #DiplomaticTensions #GlobalNews #VenezuelanPeople #USVenezuela #GovernmentAction #PoliticalNews #EconomicSanctions #VenezuelanOpposition #PoliticalConflict #AmericanDiplomacy #ElectionFraud

Transcript

00:00On Monday, the U.S. government seized an airplane connected to Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan

00:05leader, and brought it to Florida.

00:08According to a statement from the Justice Department, the plane was purchased in violation

00:12of U.S. sanctions.

00:15This move is part of the Biden administration's broader effort to increase pressure on Maduro,

00:19who has been accused of trying to undermine the results of Venezuela's recent presidential

00:24election.

00:25White House officials have said that this action is a clear message to those attempting

00:29to sidestep U.S. laws.

00:32The aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 900EX, was owned and operated by Maduro and his associates.

00:39It was confiscated while undergoing maintenance in the Dominican Republic.

00:44The plane, which was originally purchased in the United States for $13 million through

00:49a shell company, was illegally exported for Maduro's use.

00:53U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized that this seizure reflects the U.S.'s determination

00:59to enforce its sanctions.

01:02The operation was led by the Justice Department with assistance from the Homeland Security

01:06and Commerce Departments.

01:09Matthew S. Axelrod, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the Commerce Department,

01:14stated that this seizure serves as a warning.

01:17Aircraft acquired illegally for sanctioned Venezuelan officials cannot be used without

01:21consequences.

01:23CNN aired video footage showing the sleek white jet, adorned with red stripes, sitting

01:28on a tarmac in Florida.

01:30The Biden administration has accused Maduro of clinging to power unlawfully by rejecting

01:35evidence that his opponent, Edmundo Gonzalez, won the July 28 presidential election.

01:42On August 1, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken announced that the United States recognizes

01:47Gonzalez as the rightful winner and called for a peaceful transition in Venezuela.

01:53Maduro, however, has criticized the U.S., accusing it of exerting imperial power, particularly

01:59in Latin America.

02:01He has pointed to the U.S. response to the election as yet another example of this behavior.

02:07In reaction to the airplane seizure, a White House National Security Council official underscored

02:12the lack of evidence supporting Maduro's victory, noting that even a member of Venezuela's

02:16National Electoral Council has questioned his claim.

02:20According to the Justice Department, U.S. investigators discovered that Maduro's associates

02:25purchased the plane through a Caribbean-based shell company in late 2022 and early 2023.

02:32The plane was then illegally flown to Venezuela in April 2023 and has primarily been used

02:37to transport Maduro to various destinations.

02:41The Dominican Republic played a key role in this operation, seizing the plane at La Isabela

02:46International Airport in May after the U.S. government made a formal request.

02:51The Justice Department noted that the plane's purchase and export violated a 2019 executive

02:57order signed by former President Donald Trump, which restricted trade between the United

03:02States and Venezuela, as well as export controls imposed by the Commerce Department.

03:07Thanks for watching.

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