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US Seizes Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s Private Jet Amid Sanctions Violation Investigation
The United States has seized a private jet linked to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, alleging its illegal acquisition violated US sanctions and involved other criminal activities. The Dassault Falcon 900EX, valued at $13 million, was seized in the Dominican Republic while undergoing maintenance and flown to Florida. US authorities, including Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Justice, led the operation, citing that the jet was used exclusively by Maduro and Venezuelan military officials for international travel.
The seizure signifies a notable escalation in the already strained relations between the US and Venezuela. US officials have long targeted Venezuela’s government over alleged corruption, sanctions violations, and narco-terrorism activities. In response, the Venezuelan government condemned the jet seizure, labeling it “piracy” and accusing the US of aggressive coercion.
The plane, previously used in state visits by Maduro, was found to be registered under an individual’s name rather than the Venezuelan government. Investigations revealed that the jet had been smuggled out of the US through the Caribbean in April 2023. The US authorities believe the jet was part of a network of illicit assets benefitting Maduro’s regime.
Tensions between the US and Venezuela have heightened following Maduro’s disputed reelection in July. The US reimposed sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector, citing electoral concerns and demanding credible election data. Meanwhile, millions of Venezuelans have fled the country due to economic collapse, further intensifying the humanitarian crisis.
This high-profile seizure marks another chapter in the US’s ongoing efforts to disrupt Maduro’s alleged illegal activities, adding to the over $2 billion in assets already frozen or seized by US agencies.
US Sues TikTok Over ‘Massive-Scale’ Privacy Violations of Kids Under 13
The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against TikTok and its parent company ByteDance for allegedly failing to protect children’s privacy on the platform. The government claims TikTok violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which mandates parental consent for collecting personal information from users under 13.
TikTok, with around 170 million U.S. users, is also contesting a new law requiring ByteDance to divest its U.S. assets by January 19 or face a ban. The lawsuit, joined by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), aims to halt TikTok’s “unlawful massive-scale invasions of children’s privacy.” Representative Frank Pallone emphasized the need to separate TikTok from Chinese Communist Party control to safeguard American data.
TikTok disputes the allegations, stating many relate to past practices that have been addressed. The DOJ accuses TikTok of knowingly allowing children to create accounts and share content without parental consent, thereby collecting their personal information unlawfully.
FTC Chair Lina Khan highlighted TikTok’s repeated privacy violations, endangering millions of children. The FTC seeks penalties up to $51,744 per violation per day, potentially amounting to billions of dollars.