This Thursday, during the visit of Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the Dominican Republic, the confiscation of a plane used by the government of Nicolás Maduro was finalized. The plane, a Dassault Falcon 200 with registration YV3360, was seized last year by Dominican authorities and is now under the custody of the U.S. Department of Justice. Rubio was present when the official confiscation notices were placed on the aircraft, which is parked in the hangars of Santo Domingo, waiting to be flown to the United States once it is ready.
How Was This Plane Used?
The seizure of this Venezuelan aircraft, used for evading U.S. sanctions and money laundering, is a powerful example of our resolve to hold the illegitimate Maduro regime accountable for its illegal actions. With the Dominican Republic and our regional partners, we will continue… pic.twitter.com/OoVETaTReJ
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) February 6, 2025
According to the U.S. Department of State, Venezuelan government officials used this plane to travel to several countries such as Greece, Turkey, Russia, Nicaragua, and Cuba. In early 2024, it was brought to the Dominican Republic for maintenance. This plane was mainly used by Delcy Rodríguez, the Vice President of Venezuela and one of Maduro’s main representatives in international relations.
Another Chavista Plane Seized Last Year
This is not the first plane linked to Chavismo that the U.S. has seized in the Dominican Republic. Last September, another Falcon aircraft, with registration T7-ESPRT, was handed over to U.S. authorities. U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated that this plane was illegally purchased for 13 million dollars through a shell company and was smuggled out of the U.S. to be used by Maduro and his team. According to Garland, these actions pose a threat to the national security of the U.S. That plane was transported to Fort Lauderdale, in Florida.
After the seizure, the Chavista government reacted angrily and warned that it would take legal action to repair the damage. Venezuela’s foreign minister, Yvan Gil, accused the U.S. of piracy and carrying out repeated criminal practices.
Other Planes and International Conflicts
A year ago, a Boeing 747-300M from the Venezuelan airline Emtrasur Cargo was also seized by the U.S. This plane was detained in 2022 with Venezuelan and Iranian crew members, who were suspected of being involved in espionage. This caused a prolonged diplomatic conflict between Venezuela and Argentina. The crew members were detained and later released, as the accusations of financing terrorism could not be proven.
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