Ukraine war could last for years as Putin still wants the “whole of Ukraine,” NATO chief says

The Netherlands has detained 14 super-yachts with Russian possession, frozen 516 million euros ($563 million) property and blocked 155 million euros ($169 million) in transactions as a part of the sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, Dutch Overseas Affairs Minister Wopke Hoekstra stated Wednesday.

In a letter to the Dutch Parliament, Hoekstra defined 12 yachts have been presently below building at 5 shipyards within the Netherlands for “so-called Russian ‘final helpful house owners.’”

Whereas a few of the house owners don’t seem on the European sanctions listing, “because of the present export measures, these vessels usually are not allowed to be delivered for the time being,” he stated, including that “the possession buildings of those yachts are below additional investigation.”

Along with these 12, Hoekstra stated two yachts below upkeep at Dutch yards had been positioned below stricter customs supervision, and “the connection of certainly one of these yachts to an individual named on the European sanction lists is being investigated.”

Because the first sanctions have been launched, “nearly 30,000 containers in transit to Russia/Belarus have been stopped,” on the Port of Rotterdam, they usually have been investigated to “decide whether or not they fall below the sanctions measures,” he added.

Of these investigations roughly 5,500 containers have been held on suspicion of containing luxurious items with a worth of 300 euros ($350) per merchandise. “If that’s the case, these items will not be despatched to Russia/Belarus,” stated Hoekstra.

Dutch customs officers have additionally made 3,300 checks on cargo shipments. Following investigations, 9 shipments have been held as they included, “elements for diesel engines, gear for the oil trade and cryptographic items (information safety),” famous Hoekstra, including that, “these items are returned to the exporter and due to this fact to not the initially specified vacation spot.”