DOJ Says Aircraft Used by Venezuelan Oil Company Seized in Dominican Republic
Authorities in the Dominican Republic seized an aircraft used by sanctioned Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural gas company Petroleos de Venezuela (PdVSA) at the request of the U.S. government due to alleged sanctions and export control violations, DOJ announced.
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In 2019, an executive order was issued barring U.S. parties from engaging in transactions with anyone who acts or purports to act for or on behalf of PdVSA. The Office of Foreign Assets Control later identified 15 aircraft as "blocked property of U.S. law" that generally bars transactions by U.S. individuals "that involve any property or interests in blocked property."
In July 2017, PdVSA allegedly bought the aircraft at issue, a Dassault Falcon 2000EX, from the U.S. and exported it to Venezuela. After the sanctions were imposed and the aircraft was identified as blocked property, it was "serviced and maintained on multiple occasions using parts" from the U.S. in violation of export control and sanctions laws, DOJ said.
OFAC said that since at least January 2019, the aircraft has transported sanctioned Venezuelan oil minister Manuel Salvador Quevedo Fernandez to an OPEC meeting in the United Arab Emirates, along with senior members of the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, DOJ said.