Owned By Maduro Regime, Evaded Sanctions And Export Controls

 A Dassault Falcon 2000EX used by Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PdVSA), was seized in the Dominican Republic, according to authorities. PdVSA is a sanctioned, state-owned Venezuelan oil and natural gas company and was using the aircraft to evade U.S. sanctions and export control laws for the benefit of the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The seizure took place against the backdrop of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Venezuela to hold talks with Maduro.

In a post on X, Rubio said, "The seizure of this Venezuelan aircraft, used for evading U.S. sanctions and money laundering, is a powerful example of our resolve to hold the illegitimate Maduro regime accountable for its illegal actions. With the Dominican Republic and our regional partners, we will continue to counteract any scheme to evade U.S. sanctions."

The seizure is a result of an executive order issued during President Trump’s first term in 2019, prohibiting American citizens from conducting transactions with anyone who worked for or on behalf of PdVSA. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control identified 15 aircraft the fell under that order.

PdVSA purchased the aircraft from the U.S. in 2017 and exported it to Venezuela where it was registered under tail number YV-3360, according to the Justice Department. Despite the sanctions imposed on PdVSA the aircraft was still serviced and maintained on multiple occasions with parts from the U.S., including a brake assembly, electronic flight displays, and flight management computers. Those are all in violation of U.S. export control and sanctions laws.

Devin DeBacker, head of the DOJ’s National Security Division said, "The Justice Department, along with its federal law enforcement partners, will continue to safeguard our national security by identifying, disrupting and dismantling schemes aimed at procuring American goods in violation of our sanctions and export control laws."

FMI:  www.justice.gov/