On September 2, the United States announced that it had confiscated Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s aircraft, stating that its acquisition contravened US sanctions. However, a German entrepreneur has argued that the action is unlikely to impact Maduro, as he could readily acquire a Russian-made Ilyushin presidential plane, which would be an upgrade.
The aircraft was confiscated in the Dominican Republic after it was determined that its acquisition violated US sanctions. The plane, a French-built Dassault Falcon 900EX, was described by US officials as Venezuela’s equivalent to Air Force One and had been used extensively by Maduro for international travel.
The seizure marks another chapter in the strained relationship between the two nations. The US Justice Department, led by Attorney General Merrick Garland, stated that the jet was allegedly purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by Maduro and his inner circle. The plane has since been flown to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“The Justice Department seized an aircraft we allege was illegally purchased for $13 million through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by Nicolás Maduro and his cronies,” Garland said in a statement.
The jet, which features blue and red stripes on a white body, is registered in the European Republic of San Marino. The Justice Department stated that the plane was mainly utilized for Maduro’s international trips, operating almost exclusively to and from a Venezuelan military base. Previous destinations for the aircraft included St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Cuba, and Brazil.
The Dominican Republic, where the plane was seized, has played a key role in this operation. President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic said that the jet was not registered under the Venezuelan government’s name but under an individual’s name.
Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez further explained that the country’s Attorney General’s Office received an order in May to immobilize the plane, following a request from the US to search it for evidence linked to fraud, smuggling, and money laundering.
Venezuela’s government has responded strongly to the seizure, labeling it as an “illegal” confiscation and equating it to piracy. Caracas has accused the US of leveraging its economic and military power to pressure countries like the Dominican Republic into participating in what it calls “criminal acts.”
The incident comes just days after the US renewed its call for Venezuela to provide evidence proving that Maduro won the July 28 election over opposition candidate Edmundo González.
Washington claims there is “overwhelming evidence” that González received the most votes, but Venezuelan authorities have yet to release the official polling numbers. The disputed election has led to widespread unrest in Venezuela, with over 1,600 people detained during a government crackdown.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suggested that the Venezuelan President’s plane might be handed over to Juan Guaidó, the Venezuelan opposition leader supported by Washington.
Maduro Can Easily Replace Seized Aircraft With Russian Il-96?
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro can replace the aircraft recently seized by US authorities with a Russian-made Il-96. Kim Dotcom, the German entrepreneur and former owner of the Megaupload file-sharing service, shared this possibility on September 3 via X (formerly Twitter).
Dotcom suggested that the confiscation of Maduro’s plane was a minor inconvenience for the Venezuelan leader. According to him, the situation is trivial and won’t have a significant impact on Maduro.
“This is childish and inconsequential. Maduro won’t be affected. He can just buy a Russian-made Ilyushin Presidential plane, which would be an upgrade. The US is doing Maduro a favor. The global South will see this as a media stunt. It will only increase Maduro’s popularity,” he wrote.
The entrepreneur, originally from Germany and currently residing in New Zealand, describes himself as an “internet freedom fighter.” He is confronting criminal charges associated with the now-defunct file-sharing platform Megaupload and is scheduled for extradition to the United States from New Zealand.
Nonetheless, Russian media quickly picked up on his tweet. The coverage highlighted his suggestion that a Russian IL-96 aircraft would be the ideal replacement for Maduro’s seized jet, positioning it as a superior option for the Venezuelan President.
The Ilyushin Il-96 is a powerful Russian quadjet airliner designed for long-haul flights. It builds on the Il-86 model but includes modern features like a glass cockpit, fly-by-wire controls, and improved wings with winglets.
The Il-96-300PU variant, where “PU” stands for “punkt upravleniya” (Control Point), serves as the main aircraft for the Russian presidential fleet. This model is extensively customized for Presidential use.
Russia maintains several units of the Il-96-300PU, akin to the practice of world leaders who possess multiple identical vehicles. During international travel, at least two of these aircraft are on standby to conceal the exact plane that the President utilizes.
For instance, when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang in June — his first trip to North Korea in 24 years — he flew on one of these specially equipped Il-96-300 aircraft, accompanied by two additional planes for escort.
The Il-96-300PU is equipped with multiple layers of protection against various threats, including radar-jamming countermeasures and an anti-aircraft defense system. Details about its defensive capabilities remain classified.
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