WASHINGTON (Reuters) – America has seized a aircraft utilized by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and flown it from the Dominican Republic to Florida after figuring out that its buy violated U.S. sanctions, the U.S. Justice Division mentioned on Monday.
The seizure of the plane got here amid persevering with stress on Maduro at dwelling and overseas over a contested July 28 election that he claimed to have gained, whereas the opposition mentioned its vote tallies confirmed its candidate to have soundly defeated him.
Maduro, his associates and the OPEC member-state’s important oil sector are below heavy U.S. sanctions, and his dealing with of the election has raised the prospects that additional measures could possibly be imposed.
“This morning, the Justice Department seized an aircraft we allege was illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by Nicolás Maduro and his cronies,” Lawyer Common Merrick Garland mentioned in a press release.
U.S. officers mentioned the seizure, which was first reported by CNN, was made working carefully with the Dominican Republic.
The Venezuelan authorities didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
