Sep 03, Kathmandu- The US has seized the plane of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro because it was illegally bought for 13 million US dollars and secretly taken out of the country. According to the US Department of Justice, the Falcon 900EX aircraft was seized in the Dominican Republic and later sent to Florida in the US.

It is not yet clear when the plane arrived in the Dominican Republic. Tracking data showed the plane arrived in Florida on Monday after taking off from an airport near the capital, Santo Domingo.

Venezuela has protested the seizure and called it an "act of robbery". The Venezuelan government said in a statement that it has the right to take legal action to compensate for this damage. US officials have said that the aircraft was detained on suspicion of violating US export control and sanctions laws.

According to the American authorities, the investigation revealed that people related to Maduro took the help of the Caribbean Shell Company for the purchase of illegal aircraft between 2002-2023. The seized aircraft was purchased from a Florida company.

The plane was illegally imported into Venezuela in April 2023. After Maduro won the general election for the second time in July, tensions with Western countries have increased. The US has accused the election of rigging.