US, Spanish officials nab Putin ally's yacht in Mallorca

A luxury yacht owned by Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg was searched and seized in Mallorca after a joint action by US and Spanish police, according to the Guardia Civil police.

Vekselberg is considered to be one of Russia's richest residents and was already targeted with US sanctions back in 2018, on charges of tax fraud, money laundering and falsifying documents, partially due to his alleged attempts to get around sanctions by disguising his purchase of the boat.

However, the EU has not laid any sanctions on him.

Files and a computer were confiscated during the search. Photos released showed Spanish police sporting assault rifles, standing on the pier in front of the 78-metre long yacht, named Tango. Others showed US officials climbing on board.

Spain has already confiscated at least three yachts to date, part of Western sanctions to crack down on allies of Putin following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24.