United States Seizes Second Venezuelan Plane, Investigation Underway Under Secretary of State Marco Rubio's Supervision
On Thursday, the United States seized a second aircraft linked to the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in the Dominican Republic. This operation was personally overseen by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his visit to Santo Domingo. The event comes at a time when tensions between Washington and Caracas are escalating.
The U.S. had previously seized another plane belonging to Maduro in September 2024. Thursday's event marks the second time under the Trump administration that a plane linked to Maduro's government has been seized. Marco Rubio oversaw the operation during the final leg of his five-nation Latin America tour.
The aircraft in question is a Dassault Falcon 200, which has been used by Maduro and his top aides, including his vice president and defense minister. The plane has traveled to various countries worldwide, including Greece, Turkey, Russia, and Cuba. According to the U.S., it has violated their sanctions.
The plane was purchased in the U.S. in 2017 and later sent to Venezuela, where it was serviced multiple times using American parts. The U.S. Department of Justice stated that the plane belongs to a Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural gas company that is under sanctions.
One week after this seizure, Richard Grenell, President Donald Trump's special envoy, visited Caracas and met with Maduro to discuss the repatriation of Venezuelan nationals who had illegally entered the U.S. Grenell returned with six Americans who had been detained in Venezuela.
Additionally, Marco Rubio commented on the waiver of fees for U.S. warships to transit the Panama Canal during the start of his trip. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino later expressed surprise at the U.S. State Department's statement, clarifying that setting or waiving transit fees is not within his authority.
