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The United States has taken decisive action against a Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft linked to Nicolás Maduro Moros and the Venezuelan government. A civil forfeiture complaint, filed in the Southern District of Florida, alleges that the aircraft was smuggled from the United States under false pretences and used for the benefit of the Maduro regime, violating US sanctions and export control laws.
The aircraft, bearing the tail number T7-ESPRT, was seized in the Dominican Republic last year at the request of US authorities. The legal filing claims the purchase and maintenance of the aircraft were conducted unlawfully, breaching the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and involving money laundering violations.
Background on US Sanctions Against Venezuela
Since 2014, the US has imposed sanctions on Venezuelan entities and individuals in response to increasing political oppression and corruption by the Maduro regime. In 2015, the White House declared a national emergency concerning Venezuela’s actions, later expanding restrictions under Executive Orders (E.O.), including E.O. 13884 in 2019. These measures prohibit financial contributions, goods, or services benefiting individuals or entities under sanctions, including the Venezuelan government.
Details of the Alleged Scheme
The forfeiture complaint outlines how a company, Foreign Company 1, purportedly based in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, entered into a contract on 23 January 2023 to purchase the Dassault Falcon 900 EX from a Florida-based seller for $13.25 million. The company’s true purpose and ownership were concealed, with a Venezuelan national, referred to as Foreign Principal 1, managing the purchase while hiding ties to the Maduro regime.
Key allegations in the complaint include:
Shell Company Tactics: Foreign Company 1 was formed only months before the purchase (June 2022) and was later struck from the St. Vincent companies register in May 2024.
Suspicious Financial Transactions: The funds used for the purchase were transferred through multiple countries, including Malaysia, using US dollars and euros.
Evasive Communications: The company used an email address with a United Arab Emirates (.ae) domain, while its representatives had Spanish names and corresponded in Spanish.
Covert Flight Operations: The aircraft left the US on 3 April 2023, flew briefly to St. Vincent, and then to Caracas, Venezuela. It was piloted by two members of the Venezuelan Presidential Honor Guard and accompanied by a Venezuelan military aircraft.
Use by Maduro: Since May 2023, the aircraft has flown at least 21 times between Venezuela and other destinations. It was notably used by Maduro for a prisoner exchange with the US in December 2023.
Seizure & US Legal Action
In March 2024, the aircraft was taken to the Dominican Republic for maintenance, with Foreign Company 1 falsely claiming ownership. However, Venezuelan individuals, including military personnel, attempted to recover the aircraft twice in May 2024. These actions prompted the US to secure a seizure warrant, leading to the aircraft's transfer to the United States on 2 September 2024.
Following its seizure, the Maduro regime publicly acknowledged that the aircraft “had been used by” Maduro.
Alongside this case, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) identified a second Dassault Falcon aircraft, owned by Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA). This aircraft, which was illegally serviced in violation of US sanctions, was seized in the Dominican Republic on 6 February 2025.
US Investigations & International Cooperation
The Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security Miami Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Santo Domingo, and multiple US legal teams are leading the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and HSI El Dorado Task Force Miami have played key roles, with significant cooperation from Dominican Republic authorities.
This seizure underscores the US government's commitment to enforcing sanctions and export control laws. It also signals to those who attempt to circumvent international sanctions that such actions will not go unnoticed.
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Read the press release here.
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