The Russian owner of an oil tanker seized by the US military has accused American authorities of selling the ship to a scrap dealer far below its value to defeat its attempt to get the vessel back, NBC News reports.
Lawyers for Burevestmarin LLC told a court the Bella 1 went for $9.1m, compared with the roughly $21m they say it would fetch as scrap alone, and called the sale economically irrational and conducted behind closed doors. The Justice Department was ordered to respond by Friday morning.
The tanker was seized in the North Atlantic in January after a chase lasting weeks. US officials said it was evading the American blockade of Venezuela while carrying illegal Iranian oil, which the owner denies. The Justice Department and the scrap dealer could not be reached for comment.
Source: NBC News
