The FBI inspected the Venezuelan plane held in Argentina

(CNN Spanish) — The FBI inspected the Venezuelan state-owned Emtrasur plane that has been held in Argentina for two months at the Ezeiza international airport, a source with access to the file confirmed to CNN.

CNN had reported Thursday that Argentine judge Federico Villena ordered the seizure of the aircraft.

The same source confirmed that the official FBI delegate from the US embassy in Argentina and personnel from that investigative body participated in the inspection, although the inspection was carried out by the Argentine Federal Police in the presence of the judge.

This is the response of the Argentine justice to the request of the US Department of Justice, which on August 2 reported in a statement that it would request the seizure of the aircraft of the Venezuelan state company.

The cargo Boeing 747 will now remain at the disposal of both countries and its retention is due to an investigation after a complaint of alleged links to terrorist activities while operating under the Iranian flag.

The plane was owned by the Mahan Air company, from that country, until 2022.

Both the aircraft and the Iranian airline were sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury because they would have provided services to the Al-Quds forces, classified as terrorists by Washington.

Both Emtrasur and Mahan Air have denied the allegations in public statements.

The Venezuelan government has been criticizing Argentina for handling the case and President Maduro assures that they want to “steal the plane.”

In addition, the Chavista government has conditioned the resumption of dialogue with the opposition to the return of the aircraft.