US Seizes Aircraft in Venezuela Forfeiture Case
The United States Department of Justice filed a forfeiture complaint on March 18, 2025, against the Falcon 900EX T7-ESPRT, a Dassault Aviation aircraft allegedly acquired through a convoluted scheme involving a front firm in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines acting on behalf of the Venezuelan government led by Nicolás Maduro. The US government alleges that the transaction violated multiple laws, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and money laundering regulations. According to the complaint filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, in January 2023, a company incorporated in St. Vincent and the Grenadines purchased the Falcon 900EX from a Florida-based company for USD13.25 million. The Caribbean firm, however, is said to have concealed its true role as a proxy for the Maduro government. A Venezuelan national with close ties to the authorities reportedly finalized the deal, and the Vincentian and Grenadinian firm was dissolved in 2024 shortly after, further obscuring the transaction’s true nature.
The complaint details that payments for the aircraft were transferred in multiple tranches from various accounts, including one in Malaysia, raising further suspicions about the legitimacy of the funds. In late January 2023, the Falcon 900EX was reregistered in San Marino before being ferried out of Boca Raton on April 3. Its initial flight was directed to St. Vincent Argyle International Airport, but the aircraft was promptly flown onward to Caracas La Carlota. The US Department of Justice asserts that during its ferry flight to Caracas, the Falcon was piloted by two members of the Venezuelan Presidential Honour Guard and was accompanied by a Turbo Commander operated by the Venezuelan Air Force, a maneuver that strongly indicated its intended use by the Maduro government.
The situation further escalated when the Falcon was ferried to the Dominican Republic for maintenance at Santo Domingo La Isabela in March 2024. At that time, individuals allegedly affiliated with the Maduro government attempted to recover the aircraft. In response, US authorities seized the Falcon in September 2024 at La Isabela and later repatriated it to Fort Lauderdale Executive, where it currently remains parked. The Venezuelan government acknowledged that the aircraft had been used on its behalf and protested the seizure.
These developments highlight the US government’s intensified efforts to enforce international sanctions and prevent the misuse of aircraft for state purposes. The case underscores the broader implications of bypassing legal frameworks designed to control the flow of funds and equipment to sanctioned entities. The intricate financial transfers and the rapid re-registration and redeployment of the Falcon have drawn sharp criticism from US officials, who view the deal as a deliberate attempt to skirt established economic regulations.
In a related action, US marshals seized another business jet—a Falcon 2000EX—at La Isabela in February 2025, which was also allegedly used on behalf of the Venezuelan government. This second seizure further emphasizes the ongoing concern over potential breaches of international law and the circumvention of economic sanctions. The series of actions taken by US authorities serve as a stern warning to entities attempting to facilitate similar transactions and signal the government’s commitment to upholding financial and legal norms on an international scale.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com