United States marshals have seized a Falcon 2000EX, YV3360 (msn 17), operated by Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA - Petróleos de Venezuela (Caracas Simón Bolivar). The aircraft was repossessed at Santo Domingo La Isabela airport on February 7, 2025, in the presence of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The 21.2-year-old aircraft appears to have been parked in the Dominican Republic since March 2024. It remains in the country, pending likely repatriation to the US at some point.
The US said the aircraft was used by high-ranking members of the government of Nicolás Maduro, who narrowly retained his presidency in 2024 in allegedly fraudulent elections. One of the users of the aircraft was reportedly vice president Delcy Rodríguez.
"The seizure of this Venezuelan aircraft, used for evading US sanctions and money laundering, is a powerful example of our resolve to hold the illegitimate Maduro regime accountable for its illegal actions," Rubio said.
The US Treasury identified the aircraft as PDVSA's asset in 2020 and duly sanctioned it. The national oil holding is also under sanctions.
The Venezuelan ministry of foreign affairs called the seizure "a blatant theft" and an "illegal confiscation of a PDVSA aircraft with the complicity of the Dominican Republic's puppet government. Venezuela will take all necessary actions to denounce this theft and demand the immediate return of its aircraft."
Last year, the US seized another Dassault Aviation aircraft, a Falcon 900EX, previously used as Maduro's presidential jet. The aircraft, while registered in San Marino as T7-ESPRT (msn 007) reportedly through various shell companies, was also seized in the Dominican Republic and subsequently repatriated to the US.
PDVSA's fleet also comprises four Falcon 50s, one Falcon 900EX, two Falcon 900EX EASy, and seven Learjet 45XRs.
