Targeting the Sulzer oligarchy
FBI searches Vekselberg assets
In the United States, FBI investigators searched several properties belonging to Vladimir Voronchenko, a childhood friend of oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. They belong to Him. writes the “Handelzeitung”.
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Among other places, Viktor Vekselberg, who lives in Zug, has been on the US sanctions list since 2018.
FBI investigators simultaneously searched properties in Manhattan, a luxury beach community in the Hamptons and a private island in Miami on Thursday linked to Victor Vekselberg, 65, the New York Times reported.
In April, a $120 million yacht owned by a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, 69, was seized in Spain at the behest of the United States. At the time, the US Department of Justice said the boat could be seized for violating US bank fraud, money laundering and sanctions laws.
Vekselberg is on the sanctions list
Vekselberg, who lives in Zug, among other places, has been on the US sanctions list since 2018 and has been largely restricted in his activities. His assets in the US are frozen and US companies are banned from doing business with him and his companies.
In the US, a task force is investigating Russian oligarchs and the money trail that financed Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Real estate of childhood friend Vladimir Voronchenko
The US approach is made more difficult by Vekselberg’s complex ownership structure. All of the properties searched Thursday belonged to Vekselberg’s childhood friend Vladimir Voronchenko or companies linked to Voronchenko’s family and associates.
Vekselberg’s Tango yacht, flying the Cook Islands flag, was operated by Arinder Management in the British Virgin Islands, which also paid the mooring fees.
Arinder directors are also directors of Panama-based Lamesa Transport, which Vekselberg owns, according to US justice. Bank documents show that the Russian oligarch transferred millions of dollars to LaMesa through a US bank account.
Lamesa bank accounts in Switzerland also play an obvious role. According to the US Department of Justice, the money was transferred several times.
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