Thu Feb 06 15:50:00 UTC 2025: ## US Seizes Second Maduro Plane in Dominican Republic
**SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP)** — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Thursday the seizure of a second plane belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The Dassault Falcon 200 jet, which has been used by Maduro and his top aides for international travel, including trips to Russia and Cuba, was seized in the Dominican Republic. This action follows a similar seizure of another of Maduro’s planes in September 2024.
The seizure required a waiver from a foreign aid freeze to cover over $230,000 in storage and maintenance fees, and approval from the U.S. Department of Justice. Washington alleges that Maduro’s use of the plane violated U.S. sanctions. The announcement came during Rubio’s final stop on a five-nation Latin American tour.
The timing of the seizure is noteworthy, coming just a week after U.S. envoy Richard Grenell met with Maduro in Caracas, securing the release of six detained Americans in exchange for the repatriation of Venezuelan nationals illegally in the U.S.
Meanwhile, a separate diplomatic incident unfolded regarding Rubio’s earlier stop in Panama. The U.S. State Department initially claimed Panama had agreed to allow U.S. warships free passage through the Panama Canal. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino swiftly denied this, stating he had informed U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that he lacked the authority to waive canal fees. The State Department has yet to comment on the discrepancy. The canal’s fees have been a point of contention between the U.S. and Panama, with President Trump previously threatening to retake the canal unless Panama curtails Chinese influence.
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