The seizure of the yacht Amadea, nearly 8000 miles from Washington, shows there is “no hiding place for the assets of criminals who enable the Russian regime,” says US Attorney-General Merrick B Garland.
He made the comments while announcing the US government had seized the superyacht Amadea that is held at the Lautoka port.
The seizure was effected after an order was issued by the US District Court for the District of Columbia, which found that the Amadea was subject to forfeiture based on probable cause of violations of US law, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), money laundering and conspiracy.
“This ruling should make clear that there is no hiding place for the assets of individuals who violate US laws. And there is no hiding place for the assets of criminals who enable the Russian regime,” said Mr Garland.
“This yacht seizure should tell every corrupt Russian oligarch that they cannot hide — not even in the remotest part of the world. We will use every means of enforcing the sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine,” said Deputy Attorney-General Lisa O. Monaco.
Officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) New York field office were in Fiji working with the Fiji Police Force.
“This seizure demonstrates the FBI’s persistence in pursuing sanctioned Russian oligarchs attempting to evade accountability for their role in jeopardising our national security,” said FBI director Christopher Wray.
The US Department of Justice said the Amadea is worth approximately $300 million or more.
