Maduro calls the Dominican president a thief
.Nicolás Maduro called the president of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, a “thief” on Tuesday, after the United States confiscated a official Chavista plane in an operation that took place on the Caribbean island.
“They left me without a plane, the thief of the Dominican Republic’s president, (Luis) Abinader, who is a bandit, a thief,” said Maduro in a televised event, after expressing, ironically, his desire to attend the US presidential debate between candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
Maduro said he is “closely following” the presidential debate, which is taking place this Tuesday, and that if “his plane had not been stolen in the Dominican Republic,” he would travel to the United States.
“The Dominican people will give him their due in due time (to Abinader), Don’t give me that “I didn’t do it” face, I talked to him a lot. (…) face to face. So I can’t go to the debate, I’m sorry,” he added.
Plane used by Nicolás Maduro seized in the Dominican Republic
On September 2, the United States Department of Justice reported the confiscation of Maduro’s official plane in an operation carried out in the Dominican Republic, based on violations of sanctions against the oil-producing nation.
Through a statement, the US government confirmed the information previously leaked by CNN and announced the seizure of a Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft“owned by Nicolás Maduro and people affiliated with him in Venezuela, which was operated on his behalf.”
The aircraft was seized in the Dominican Republic with the assistance of the country’s authorities and transferred to Florida, United States, for having been “illegally purchased” for 13 million dollars “through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States for use by Nicolás Maduro and his cronies,” denounced the attorney general, Merrick B. Garland.
In response, the Venezuelan government announced that it will reserve the right to take legal action to “repair” the damage caused by the confiscation of this aircraft.
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