The United States has seized Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro’s airplane after determining that its acquisition was in violation of US sanctions, among other criminal issues. The US flew the aircraft to Florida on Monday, according to two US officials, CNN reports.

It’s the latest development in what has long been a frosty relationship between the US and Venezuela, and its seizure in the Dominican Republic marks an escalation as the US continues to investigate what it regards as corrupt practices by Venezuela’s government.

“This sends a message all the way up to the top,” one of the US officials told CNN. “Seizing the foreign head of state’s plane is unheard-of for criminal matters. We’re sending a clear message here that no one is above the law, no one is above the reach of US sanctions.”

The seizure of the nearly $13 million Dassault Falcon 900 involved multiple US federal agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations; Commerce agents, the Bureau of Industry and Security; and the Justice Department..

According to one of the interlocutors of CNN, the authorities of the United States cooperated closely with the Dominican Republic, which informed Venezuela about the seizure of the plane.

The plane has been described by officials as Venezuela’s equivalent to Air Force One and it  has been pictured in previous state visits by Maduro around the world.

Venezuela is considered one of the most corrupt countries. According to Washington, a number of Venezuelan military and political figures are involved in, among other things, drug trafficking and the industry. Criminal cases have been initiated against them in the USA

In March 2020, the US Department of Justice charged Maduro, together with 14 current and former Venezuelan officials, with narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and corruption.

In 2020, the United States accused Nicolas Maduro of drug trafficking, and the president was also accused of money laundering.

The US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs has offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to Maduro’s arrest or conviction.