The Trump administration seized a second plane belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government, currently in the Dominican Republic.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio witnessed officials affixing the seizure warrant to the plane during his visit to Santo Domingo.

Rubio approved a waiver on frozen foreign aid to cover over $230,000 in storage and maintenance fees.

The U.S. Justice Department said the plane was used by a sanctioned Venezuelan state-owned oil company and had been serviced with American parts.

The Dassault Falcon 200 had transported Maduro and top officials on international trips that Washington claims violated U.S. sanctions.

The seizure follows a recent visit by U.S. envoy Richard Grenell, who met with Maduro and returned with six detained Americans.

In September 2024, the U.S. seized another of Maduro’s planes, a Dassault Falcon 900EX, allegedly purchased through a shell company.

Rubio also addressed U.S. warship fees for the Panama Canal, stating Panama must follow legal procedures to change them, France 24 has reported.

The U.S. State Department initially claimed Panama agreed to waive the fees, but Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino denied this.

Trump has criticized the fees and threatened action unless Panama limits Chinese influence in the canal zone.

Written by B.C. Begley