Dominican Republic authorities have seized a Dassault Falcon 2000EX aircraft used by Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), the state-owned oil and natural gas company of Venezuela, following a request from the U.S. government. The seizure was based on violations of U.S. export control and sanctions laws.
U.S. Attorney Hayden O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida stated, "The seizure of the Dassault Falcon 2000EX aircraft provides yet another example of this office’s commitment to enforcing America’s export control laws against Venezuelan-owned PdVSA and other sanctioned entities."
Devin DeBacker, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, emphasized the importance of safeguarding national security: "The use of American-made parts to service and maintain aircraft operated by sanctioned entities like PdVSA is intolerable."
Kevin J. Kurland from the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security remarked that "today’s announcement — the seizure of a sanctioned aircraft used by the Maduro regime — clearly shows that sanctions and export control laws have teeth."
Edwin F. Lopez, Homeland Security Investigations Santo Domingo Country Attaché, commented on international cooperation: "By working closely with our partners in the Dominican Republic and across the U.S. government, we successfully prevented the violation of U.S. laws designed to protect national security and foreign policy interests."
In August 2019, Executive Order 13884 was issued by President Trump prohibiting transactions with individuals acting for or on behalf of PdVSA. In January 2020, OFAC identified 15 aircraft as blocked property under U.S law.
The investigation revealed that PdVSA purchased the Dassault Falcon 2000EX in July 2017 from the United States before exporting it to Venezuela where it was registered under tail number YV-3360. Despite being identified as blocked property after sanctions were imposed on PdVSA, it was maintained using American parts such as brake assemblies and electronic flight displays.
OFAC noted that since January 2019, this aircraft has transported Venezuelan Oil Minister Manuel Salvador Quevedo Fernandez to an OPEC meeting in UAE among other activities involving senior members of Maduro's regime.
Previously in September 2024 another Dassault Falcon model linked with Nicolás Maduro Moros had been seized also within Dominican Republic jurisdiction.
The case is being investigated by BIS Miami Field Office alongside HSI Santo Domingo while legal proceedings are managed by Assistant U.S Attorneys Jorge Delgado & Joshua Paster plus Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal amongst others who received support from various governmental bodies including HSI El Dorado Task Force Miami.
The United States expressed gratitude towards Dominican Republic authorities for their assistance throughout these operations emphasizing its continued resolve against illegal procurement activities violating established international regulations regarding trade embargoes targeting specific nations/entities globally.