Officials highlighted the series of illicit transactions that began in late 2022 to early 2023, where associates of Maduro used a shell company to purchase the jet, valued at $13 million. This behavior reflects a blatant disregard for U.S. sanctions, as the aircraft was exported through the Caribbean in a manner specifically designed to evade an executive order prohibiting American transactions with Maduro’s regime. The plane has been utilized by Maduro for foreign travel, complicating the ongoing efforts to sanction his regime.
Attorney General Merrick Garland's statement underscored the seriousness of the matter, asserting that the jet's smuggling out of the U.S. for the usage of Maduro and his associates represents not only legal violations but also a larger challenge in enforcing sanctions. The Justice Department emphasized that the seizure serves as a pivotal enforcement action designed to uphold the integrity of U.S. sanctions and export laws, affirming that those who illegally acquired assets on behalf of sanctioned officials will face consequences.
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