U.S. authorities have taken control of Venezuelan President Maduro's aircraft.
According to Attorney General Merrick Garland, the machine was illicitly obtained by a disguised corporation for $13 million and illegally exported from the U.S. to benefit Nicolás Maduro and his associates, bypassing the U.S.'s imposed sanctions against Maduro.
Since 2013, radical politician Maduro has held power in Venezuela, however, he's not acknowledged as the true leader by the U.S. due to his disputed authority. Despite global scrutiny and accusations of dishonesty from the opposition, Maduro was declared victorious in the July 28 presidential election.
This outcome triggered widespread riots in Venezuela's oil-rich region, with the judiciary confirming 27 fatalities and 2,400 detained protestors. Several nations, such as the U.S., Peru, and Argentina, recognized Edmundo González Urrutia as the authentic winner of the election shortly after the vote.
The disguised corporation allegedly used $13 million to illegally acquire an aircraft, which was then exported to circumvent U.S. sanctions against Maduro and his associates. Despite international criticism and accusations of corruption, Maduro continued to operate aircraft within Venezuela's airspace.
