The US Department of Justice reported on August 31, 2022, that a court in Texas has issued a warrant for the seizure of a Boeing aircraft belonging to the Russian oil and gas company Lukoil, the value of which is estimated at $45 million.
Source: The US Department of Justice
The plane violated US sanctions imposed against the Russian Federation in response to the invasion of Ukraine when it flew to and from Russia.
“The United States obtained a warrant to seize a Boeing 737-7EM aircraft owned by PJSC LUKOIL, a Russian multinational oil and gas corporation headquartered in Moscow, Russia. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas authorized the seizure, finding probable cause that the Boeing aircraft was subject to seizure based on violations of federal law.”
In particular, the sanctions introduced by the US Department of Commerce include restrictions on the export, transfer and movement of aircraft to or within Russia without the appropriate permission. Lukoil has been under US sanctions since 2014.
The withdrawal is coordinated by the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture. Created in March 2022, the initiative opposes sanctions evasion imposed due to Russian military aggression in Ukraine.
See also: The USA will strengthen control over compliance with sanctions against Russia
