A BRIT has been arrested in connection to an £80 million Russian yacht that was seized in Mallorca.
The UK national was arrested at Madrid‘s Barajas airport after he was accused of helping a Russian tycoon dodge international sanctions imposed following the invasion of Ukraine.
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The Brit, who has yet to be named, was wanted by the US authorities on fraud and money laundering charges.
He has been accused of leading a business through which he tried to hide the yacht Tango, which was seized in Mallorca, Spain last April.
The yacht was one of those seized because of its links to the Russian tycoon Viktor Vekselberg.
The Civil Guard, in collaboration with the FBI and the Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) arrested the UK national on Monday.
The Brit, the owner of a yacht management company obtained goods and services from the US under a fake name and false documentation, for a Russian citizen, breaching current regulations, according to the Civil Guard.
The Russian is a business conglomerate with interests in the oil, energy and telecommunications sectors, the Civil Guard added.
Investigators estimate the Brit’s company has earned over £700,000 for its services on the yacht.
The man’s arrest comes just days after another Brit was arrested and accused of money laundering and sanctions evasion in relation to a £72 million yacht of Vekselberg.
Richard Masters, 51, was arrested on Friday and was set for extradition to the US.
A Russian national, Vladislav Osipov, 51, was also hit with the same charges by a US court.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Osipov, who was Vekselberg’s employee according to the Justice Department.
Aliki Kraterou
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