The United States of America has seized the plane of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the Dominican Republic after finding that US sanctions were violated during the purchase of the plane. The US sent the plane to Florida today, according to two US officials. 

US officials said the plane is Venezuela's equivalent of Air Force One and has been used by Maduro on state visits in the past.

"It sends a message to the top. It sends a clear message that no one is above the law, that no one is above the scope of US sanctions," a US official told CNN.

The Dassault Falcon 900 jet, worth about $13 million, has been in the Dominican Republic in recent months. US officials worked closely with the Dominican Republic, which notified Venezuela of the seizure.

The US reimposed sanctions on Venezuela's oil and gas sector earlier this year after Maduro's government refused to allow competitive presidential elections to be held. After Maduro won again on July 28, Venezuela suspended commercial flights to and from the Dominican Republic.

In March 2020, the US Department of Justice indicted Maduro, along with 14 current and former Venezuelan officials, for narco-terrorism, drug trafficking and corruption.