Federal agents simultaneously searched properties in Manhattan, a luxurious Hamptons beach community and a private island in Miami, which have been linked to the Russian oligarch and billionaire Viktor Vekselberg, whose yacht valued at 90 million dollars was seized last April.
An FBI spokesperson confirmed that the agents “performed law enforcement activities” at the Upper East Side building and the Long Island property.
FBI agents and Homeland Security investigators were seen removing boxes from Vekselberg’s properties, NBC New York reported.
A source familiar with the inquiries confirmed that Vekselberg was the search target.
A similar search took place on Fisher Island, near Miami Beach, where the FBI and other federal agencies could be seen on the properties of the Russian and his allies.
A team has been investigating Russian oligarchs and the money trail that has helped fuel the invasion of Ukraine by President Vladimir Putin, who is working to enforce financial restrictions placed on Russia and its billionaire allies.
Among other assets confiscated from Vekselberg in the United States, it includes a plane of 90 million dollars. Likewise, companies in the country are prohibited from doing business with the oligarch, who made billions by investing in energy and metals in Russia.
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Vekselberg is under investigation for alleged bank fraud, but Thursday’s searches are not linked with those allegations, NBC said.
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