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US Seizes $45M Airplane Owned by Russian Energy Company LUKOIL
A Texas court has authorized the seizure of a Boeing 737-7EM aircraft owned by PJSC LUKOIL, a Russian multinational oil and gas corporation, in a move aimed at enforcing US sanctions against Russia.
The US District Court for the Southern District of Texas issued the warrant following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which found that the aircraft had flown into and out of Russia in violation of US export controls.
The Boeing 737-7EM, bearing tail number VP-CLR and manufacturer serial number 34865, is worth approximately $45 million. It last flew into the United States in March 2019, when it arrived in Houston with LUKOIL officials, including Russian oligarch Vagit Alekperov, on board.
The seizure is part of a broader effort by the US government to enforce sanctions against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions impose export controls and license requirements to protect US national security and foreign policy interests.
“The FBI will remain focused and faithful to our responsibility to protect our U.S. national security and foreign policy interests,” said Special Agent in Charge James Smith of the FBI – Houston Field Office. “We’ll continue to go after individuals who insist on helping Russia advance its hostile and illegal activities, and we’ll continue to seize their valuable possessions, wherever they may be.”
LUKOIL has been subject to sectoral sanctions imposed by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control since September 2014.
PJSC LUKOIL is a Russian multinational oil and gas corporation headquartered in Moscow, Russia.
Defendant: PJSC LUKOIL
Criminal Charges: Sanctions Violation
City and State: Houston, Texas
Exact Date: Not specified
Sentence or Outcome: Currently seized
Dollar Amounts: $45 million
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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