U.S. to Seize Another Aircraft Belonging to Venezuela's Maduro, the Second in Less Than Six Months

The Donald Trump administration is set to seize another aircraft belonging to Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro, a measure meant to put further pressure on the regime to relinquish its stronghold on the country after claiming a third term in power despite not providing supporting documentation.

The plane, a Dassault Falcon 200, is currently located in the Dominican Republic and has been used by Maduro and top aides, including his vice president and defense minister, for international travel, including visits to Greece, Turkey, Russia and Cuba. Washington said they represent violations of U.S. sanctions

The announcement of the seizure is expected to be made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his visit to Dominican Republic on Thursday, the final stop of his five-nation tour of Central America. According to a U.S. official and a State Department document obtained by the Associated Press, the operation required Rubio to authorize a waiver to unfreeze foreign aid funds to cover storage and maintenance fees amounting to over $230,000.

This marks the second time in less than six months that U.S. authorities seize an aircraft linked to Maduro. In September 2024, a Dassault Falcon 900EX valued at $13 million was also confiscated in the Dominican Republic.

According to the Department of Justice, Maduro's associates used a Caribbean-based shell company to conceal their involvement in the purchase of the aircraft from a Florida-based company. The plane was later flown to Florida as part of broader U.S. efforts to exert pressure on maduro.

The move follows a trip from Trump special envoy Richard Grenell to Caracas to negotiate the repatriation of U.S. nationals who had entered Venezuela unlawfully.

Grenell returned with six American citizens who had been detained in Venezuela and Trump also announced that Venezuela had agreed to accept all Venezuelan nationals deported from the U.S., including alleged members of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang, and would provide transportation for their return.

U.S. authorities have been targeting Maduro's assets as part of a broader strategy against the Venezuelan government. Federal agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), have pursued cases of corruption linked to Maduro's regime, leading to the seizure of an estimated $2 billion in illicit assets over the years.

The Justice Department has accused Maduro and 14 officials of narcoterrorism, drug trafficking, and corruption. The State Department has also increased its reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest from $15 million to $25 million following his contested inauguration on January 10.