- The Flying Fox yacht, which is reportedly linked to Russian oligarch, Dmitry Kamenshchik has been stuck in the Dominican Republic since March 21
- Dominican Republic officials acted on a request from the United States government and stopped the vessel from leaving the country
- Homeland Security Investigations agents inspected the superyacht last Friday to determine if there are any connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin
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U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents visited the Flying Fox yacht last Friday
A $455 million superyacht allegedly linked to a Russian oligarch Dmitry Kamenshchik remains anchored in the Dominican Republic after the United States government requested an investigation into the vessel as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The Flying Fox has been prohibited from sailing from the Caribbean island after it arrived there from St. Barts on March 21.
The luxurious vessel docked in the resort town of La Roma to refuel and restock on food supplies. It took off before it was stopped in Santo Domingo and forced to dock at the Don Diego Port.
Agents with the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) visited the yacht last Friday as part of its investigation and were accompanied by officials from the Foreign Relations Ministry, General Directorate of Customs and Office of the Attorney General.
DailyMail.com has reached out to HSI for comment.
The Flying Fox, a $455 million yacht, which is reportedly linked to Russian billionaire Dmitry Kamenshchik, owner of Moscow's Domodedovo Airport, is currently anchored in the Dominican Republic following a petition from the United States government as it investigates any possible connections to President Vladimir Putin as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Homero Figueroa, spokesperson for Dominican President Luis Abinader, said on Tuesday that the Attorney General's office has the results of an inquiry into the Flying Fox superyacht, which is anchored in Santo Domingo as U.S. and Dominican officials investigate whether it is linked to Russian oligarch Dmitry Kamenshchik
The Flying Fox has 57 crew members but not passengers, according to Dominican Republic authorities
Russian billionaire Dmitry Kamenshchik has not been sanctioned by the United Kingdom, European Union and United States. He is the owner of Domodedovo Airport, one of the biggest airports in Russia
Homero Figueroa, press secretary for Dominican President Luis Abinader, appeared on Color Vision's Today morning show and revealed that the Office of the Attorney General had the results of its inquiry.
'If something is found that conflicts with the legal regulations in the Dominican Republic, we will proceed according to the law. If there is nothing irregular, the yacht will be released,' Figueroa said.
Figueroa added that while there has been a joint collaboration with their U.S. counterparts, each agency has a 'different objective.'
A helicopters on the deck of the luxurious Flying Fox yacht, which has been anchored in the Dominican Republic since March 21
U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents visited the Flying Fox yacht last Friday
'Dominican institutions act in the sphere that the regulations allow and the investigation carried out by the Dominicans obeys a totally different objective than the (United States) institution that was present in the Dominican Republic,' Figueroa added. 'We refer to the possible findings that the Dominican institution (Customs) may find in the raid of the yacht.'
Kamenshchik's 466-foot long yacht, according to Dominican authorities, has 57 crew members but not passengers aboard.
Considered the world's largest yacht available for charter – it has hosted Jay-Z and Beyonce - the Flying Fox features stands 104 feet above the waterline, according to Boat International.
The yacht features a pool, spa, gym and 11 cabins.
Considered the world's largest yacht available for charter – it has hosted Jay-Z and Beyonce - the Flying Fox features stands 104 feet above the waterline, according to Boat International. The yacht features a pool, spa, gym and 11 cabins
Considered the world's largest yacht available for charter – it has hosted Jay-Z and Beyonce - the Flying Fox features stands 104 feet above the waterline, according to Boat International.
The yacht was built in 2019 and features a pool, spa, gym and 11 cabins for 25 passengers.
The investigation into the yacht allegedly tied to Kamenshchik who owns Moscow's Domededovo Airport – one of the largest in Russia – comes as the European Union, United Kingdom and the United States have zeroed on in Russian billionaires and confiscated their vessels, homes and jets for bankrolling President Vladimir Putin.
VesselsValue's head of superyachts, Sam Tucker, recently told Forbes that ownership of the massive vessels by the oligarch's 'is notoriously private.'
The yachts are typically owned through offshore companies. There are at least 43 yachts are worth at least $5.4 billion. Sanctioned Russian billionaires possess 22 vessels that are worth $3.1 billion.
'Technically speaking, these yachts are owned by a special purpose vehicle, often being in a different jurisdiction to the beneficial owner,' Tucker said. 'There are also lease systems, which further distance the [owner] from the asset.'
United Kingdom officials seized a Russian businessman's $49 million yacht on Tuesday. Officials boarded the Phi in Canary Wharf, east of London.
The vessel is the first to be detained in the UK under sanctions imposed because of the war in Ukraine.
'It's just another indication that we will not stand by whilst Putin's cronies are allowed to sail around the world in these kinds of yachts and people in Ukraine are suffering,' Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said.
'When you see what he's doing to Ukraine, when you see what he's doing to people's lives, it can't be right to have a yacht like this here in London, able to just sail away, and that is why we've impounded it and denied its ability to go anywhere right now.'
Finland last week seized 21 yachts as it investigated whether they were owned by Russian oligarchs.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10664959/Massive-Flying-Fox-yacht-linked-Russian-oligarch-stuck-Dominican-Republic.html
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