US Seizes Plane Belonging to Venezuelan President Maduro in Dominican Republic

The plane was used by Petroleos de Venezuela, the sanctioned Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural gas company, according to the DOJ.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens to Edwin F. Lopez, the attache for DHS Homeland Security Investigations, next to the Venezuelan government airplane that Rubio announced is being seized by the United States, during a news conference at La Isabela International Airport in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Feb. 6, 2025. Mark Schiefelbein/Pool via Reuters

The United States on Thursday seized a plane belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s regime that is currently in the Dominican Republic, the Justice Department (DOJ) announced.

The aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 2000EX, was used by Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), the sanctioned Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural gas company.