US OFFICIALS PLEASED WITH WORK OF LOCAL OPERATIVES IN SEARCH OF RUSSIAN SUPERYACHT

Local authorities say the United States has expressed satisfaction with their work in searching the Alfa Nero superyacht.
A source close to the investigation says Washington was immensely pleased with the professionalism and speed of the execution of the work by local law enforcement operatives.
The investigation has been continuing into the yacht and its Russian owner, Andrey Guryev, who is on sanctions lists issued by the United States, United Kingdom and European Union.
The source says details of the investigation cannot be revealed at this time because of their sensitive nature.
The vessel was searched last month by local law enforcement operatives following a request from the United States under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, MLAT.
The Government has said responding to requests from countries, such as the US, with which Antigua and Barbuda has binding mutual legal assistance treaties, is an obligation which must be upheld.
Officials in St John’s recently made it clear this country does not have the option to auction the vessel as was recently done by Gibraltar regarding another Russian superyacht, the Axioma.