The United States has taken over Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s planeand moved it from the Dominican Republic to Florida after determining that its purchase violated Washington sanctions, the Justice Department said Monday.

The hijacking comes amid continued pressure on Maduro following the July 28 election, in which he won re-election despite opposition claims that the vote count showed its candidate had won the election.

“Once again, the authorities of the United States of America are repeating a criminal practice that cannot be qualified as anything other than piracyillegally confiscated a plane used by the president,” the government said. Venezuela in the statement.

The plane also appears in images upon its return to Venezuela Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman who was pardoned by the United States after being convicted of money laundering in December as part of a prisoner swap.

Maduro, his allies and the country’s oil sector are under tough US sanctions, and his performance in the election has raised the prospect of more measures.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement that the plane Dassault Falcon 900EX It was acquired illegally through a shell company and smuggled out of the country “for use by Nicolás Maduro and his cronies.”

U.S. officials said the seizure was carried out in close cooperation with the Dominican Republic.

“This is an important step to ensure that Maduro continues to feel the consequences of his mismanagement of the country. Venezuela“A White House National Security Council spokesman said.

Many Western countries questioned the fairness of the July elections, and the United States congratulated opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez on winning the most votes.

Reuters.