Washington: The US has seized the plane used by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in the Dominican Republic. The US Justice Department said on Monday that the plane was brought to Florida from the Dominican Republic. It has been found that this plane was purchased in violation of US sanctions. The Venezuelan government has termed this action of the US as a criminal act.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Falcon 900EX aircraft was purchased illegally for $13 million through a fake company. The plane was smuggled from the US to Venezuela via the Caribbean region last year. It has been used by Maduro and his deputies ever since.