Maduro accuses President Abinader of theft after plane seizure
Venezuela.- Tensions between Venezuela and the Dominican Republic have intensified following remarks by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. On Tuesday, Maduro claimed he would have attended the U.S. presidential debate if it weren’t for the “theft” of his presidential plane, which he blames on Dominican President Luis Abinader. Maduro referred to Abinader as a “thief” and a “bandit,” expressing his frustration in a televised event.
Maduro expressed regret over missing the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, stating, “I am very attentive to the debate, but if my plane had not been stolen in the Dominican Republic, I would have traveled to the U.S.” He warned that the Dominican people would hold Abinader accountable for this incident.
On September 2, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the seizure of Maduro’s Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft in the Dominican Republic. This seizure was part of an operation related to violations of sanctions against Venezuela.
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It’s not like Maduro has a much larger plane than the plane that was seized.
Maybe the accuser should look into a mirror to find the real thief.
The seizure of the Falcon 900EX by the US was because it was purchased in Florida by third parties. At the time it was illegal for US people to have transactions with persons, third parties, having direct or indirect interest for the state of Venezuela including Maduro and his cronies. The aircraft could not have departed the US if purchase, transport, and export documents mentioned Venezuela as the ultimate destination. The documents are required to have a Destination Control Statement. It may be safely assumed the paperwork was doctored to allow the plane to fly from FL to a Caribbean island having no embargo, a place where again papers were falsified to slide the plane into Venezuela.