The US Department of Justice has reportedly dissolved a task force targeting Russian Oligarchs.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the United States (U.S) Department of Justice has announced the dissolution of Task Force KleptoCapture, a unit created in 2022 to target Russian oligarchs in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The task force was formed to disrupt the financial networks of wealthy allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, aiming to enforce sanctions and hold accountable those enabling violations of sanctions and export controls.
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Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, stated in a memo that the closure of the task force is part of a broader strategic shift, reallocating resources and focus toward addressing drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
Pam Bondi also mentioned that the resources previously allocated to enforcing sanctions and confiscating assets from oligarchs would now be redirected toward combating cartel operations.
Prosecutors who were part of Task Force KleptoCapture will return to their original roles as a result of this shift.
The directive outlining these changes will be in effect for 90 days, with the possibility of extension or becoming permanent.
Since its establishment, the task force successfully seized numerous high-value assets, including luxury yachts owned by Russian billionaires Suleiman Kerimov and Viktor Vekselberg.
