SUVA, Fiji: Fiji police said Thursday they had received a “criminal matter” involving the superyacht Amadea, which is purportedly owned by Russian businessman Suleiman Kerimov, a target of Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.

Sitiveni Qiliho said the expensive boat arrived in Lautoka, Fiji on Tuesday without customs clearance.

In a criminal situation, he added, a “foreign counterpart” had requested help from the Fiji government.

He added that police were looking into probable customs and immigration violations, as well as possible drug, weapon, and money laundering concerns.

“Our investigations will cover all those areas.” If those things should be declared, they have to be declared. There are clear-cut guidelines stipulated that those yachts coming in have to conform to.

According to the website superyachtfan.com, which records the wealthiest people’s yachts, the Amadea is valued at $325 million.

Kerimov is listed as the owner on many yacht-tracking websites, but this could not be independently verified.

The United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Kerimov as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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