$325 million yacht seized from Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov sails to U.S. after Fiji court ruling

The 106m-long and 18m-high super luxury motor yacht Amadea, one of the largest yacht in the world is seen after anchored at pier in Pasatarlasi for bunkering with 9 fuel trucks, on February 18, 2020 in Bodrum district of Mugla province in Turkey.

A $325 million superyacht that American authorities say is owned by Russian tycoon Suleiman Kerimov was sailing to the United States on Tuesday after that island nation's high court allowed it to be seized.

The US Department of Justice tried to take possession of the 350-foot yacht Amadea in May, but it was stopped by a judge.

The seizure effort was part of the DOJ's "Klepto Capture" campaign to punish Russian billionaires in response to their country's invasion of Ukraine.

The Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Kerimov for his alleged involvement in the Russian government's corruption and illegal annexation of the peninsula.

A judge in New York signed a warrant for the Department of Justice to seize two jets owned by another Russian billionaire, Roman Abramovich, which have a combined value of more than $400 million.

Anthony Coley, a spokesman for the US Department of Justice, thanked the police and prosecutors in the country for their perseverance and dedication to the rule of law.

The yacht was moved away from the country after the Supreme Court ordered it to sail out of the country.

The judgement noted that Amadea was likely to avoid prosecution by sailing into the waters of the United States.

According to the FBI, the Amadea has an operating cost of between $25 million and $30 million a year. The legal fight over the seizure was paid for by the government.

Millermarin Investments argued that Kerimov didn't own the ship and objected to the seizure.

The real owner of the yacht was the former CEO of the state-controlled oil and gas company, according to the lawyer. The U.S. and the European Union don't have sanctions against it.

Haniff argued that the U.S. didn't have the authority to seize the ship until the ownership question could be decided by a court.

The documents show that Khudainatov is the owner of a $700 million yacht. Russian President Vladimir Putin is a target of U.S. sanctions.

The port of Marina di Carrara was taken over by the Italian government.

According to the FBI, the fact that the owner of two of the largest superyachts on record, both linked to individuals, suggests that he is being used as a clean, unsanctioned straw owner.

The deputy attorney general warned that the department had its eyes on every yacht purchased with dirty money when it tried to seize the Amadea.

Monaco wrote that the seizure of the yacht should tell corrupt Russians that they can't hide.

We will use all available means to enforce the sanctions against Russia.