Caracas has accused Argentina’s leader of illegally handing over a “stolen” cargo plane to the US
Caracas has opened a criminal investigation of Argentine President Javier Milei over the handing over of a seized Venezuelan cargo plane to the US.
The dispute between the two South American countries stems from the fate of the Emtrasur Boeing 747-300FM, which was initially purchased from Iran’s Mahan Air. In August 2022, the Argentine authorities seized the aircraft at the request of the US. Washington had previously blacklisted Mahan Air as part of export restrictions placed on Iran.
Venezuela has long protested the detention of the aircraft, arguing that Argentina violated international law, and has demanded compensation. In March 2024, Caracas even closed airspace to flights to and from Argentina.
Announcing the probe on Wednesday, Venezuelan Prosecutor General Tarek Saab said that he appointed two prosecutors to “process” arrest…