The US has seized a plane belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro – claiming it was bought illegally for $13m (£9.8m) and smuggled out of the country.

According to the US justice department, the Falcon 900EX aircraft was seized in the Dominican Republic and transferred to the US state of Florida.

It is unclear how and when the plane ended up in the Dominican Republic. Tracking data showed it leaving La Isabela airport near the capital Santo Domingo on Monday, arriving at Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida soon after.

There has been no comment so far from Mr Maduro or the Venezuelan government over the matter.

A spokesperson for the White House national security council said the action represented “an important step to ensure that Maduro continues to feel the consequences from his misgovernance of Venezuela”.

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