Seized $300 Million Superyacht Owned By Russian Oligarch Docks In Hawaii Flying U.S. Flag

A superyacht belonging to a Russian oligarch that was seized in Fiji by American law enforcement a week and a half ago finally docked in Honolulu on Thursday waving the American flag.

It took days for the $300 million vessel, which is owned by sanctioned billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, known to be an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to dock in American waters due to multiple administrative hurdles. The crew refused to sail for the U.S., so the feds hired a new crew to come in and get the vessel to Hawaii. The superyacht, known as the Amadea, was seized in the Justice Department’s quest to claim the luxury belongings of Russian oligarchs in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.

President Joe Biden and the House of Representatives have pushed for legislation that would allow seized assets to be sold with funds going toward helping Ukraine, but it has not been passed in the Senate.

A Russian-owned superyacht seized in Fiji by U.S. law enforcement docked in Honolulu on Thursday. The $300 million Amadea, which was seized on June 7, was seen flying an American flag. https://t.co/2sz7LPDp7E pic.twitter.com/fzt7Js5tGw

— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 17, 2022