In response to sanctions evasion and money laundering, a civil forfeiture complaint has been filed by the United States against the superyacht Amadea, the property of sanctioned Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov. With an estimated value exceeding $300 million, the vessel is under review for contraventions of U.S. legislature, incorporating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and offenses related to money laundering. The onus of showing forfeitability is on the U.S. government, with the case involving Amadea and the engaged parties currently in the process, according to the Department of Justice.
The Amadea was first seized in 2022, per U.S. instructions, but filing for civil forfeiture did not take place until today, in New York's Southern District. This event highlights extensive cross-government and international collaboration in challenging cross-border inquiries, designed to deliver a clear warning to Russian oligarchs and their supporters of potentially serious repercussions, should they disregard legality.
"The United States brings this action today after a careful and painstaking effort to develop the necessary evidence showing Suleiman Kerimov's clear interest in the Amadea and the repeated misuse of the U.S. financial system to support and maintain the yacht for his benefit," stated Task Force KleptoCapture co-director Michael Khoo. The United States has expressed its determination to utilize all available strategies to hold sanctioned individuals accountable for their acts, as indicated by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, representing New York's Southern District in the announcement.
In April 2018, the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Kerimov as a Specially Designated National (SDN) under IEEPA, arising from Russia's actions in Ukraine, viewed as posing an unusual and extraordinary threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy. Furthermore, Kerimov had never sought OFAC endorsement for any transactions, inclusive of those related to the yacht. He was re-designated as an SDN in September 2022 by OFAC.
To conceal his Amadea ownership after being marked by OFAC, Kerimov is alleged to have attempted a complicated series of transfers between shell companies. In September 2021, Kerimov arranged to purchase the yacht, securing rights to use it before finalizing payment. From October 2021, Kerimov and his family made multiple yacht trips, planning substantial renovations, arranging long-term travel schedules, and assuming responsibility for upkeep. During this period, individuals or entities reportedly made payments through the U.S. financial system on Kerimov's behalf - a clear violation of the relevant sanctions.
At present, the Amadea is in U.S. custody in San Diego, following a seizure warrant issued by the District Court in Washington, D.C. This action followed court rulings in the Republic of Fiji, subsequent to a U.S. request for mutual legal assistance, a testament to the increasing global obligation to uphold the rule of law and confront sanction undermining or evasion attempts.
The Justice Department's Task Force KleptoCapture, established on March 2, 2022, has jurisdiction in this case. The task force, composed of multiple law enforcement agencies, is dedicated to enforcing sanctions, export controls, and economic countermeasures implemented by the United States and its allies in response to Russia's unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. The task force's ongoing work will continue to utilize the Department's full range of tools and authority to counteract these thwarting efforts, according to Matthew G. Olsen, the Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department's National Security Division.
