Ernst, Blumenthal Target Russian Ghost Ships Evading U.S. Sanctions

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) are introducing the bipartisanGlobal Hunt for Offshore Smuggling and Trafficking (GHOST) Act to strengthen enforcement of U.S. sanctions against Russia.
Currently, Russia is using a"ghost fleet” of unmarked ships totransport70% of its seaborn oil exportsand illicitly fund its economy. Iran hasworkedthrough similar actions to smuggleRussianand its own sanctioned oil throughout the world, including to China. This bipartisan action would expand U.S. efforts to disrupt illicit trade networks that are allowing Russia and Iran to evade sanctions.
“Russia is continuing its malign actions by operating a ‘ghost fleet’ to evade U.S. sanctions, enrich its own war machine, and even aid Iranian oil smuggling,”said Ernst.“By enhancing intelligence sharing and equipping law enforcement with the tools needed to go after illicit trade networks, I am working to halt the Axis of Evil in its tracks. In addition to disrupting Moscow’s efforts to undermine U.S. law, this bill will also arm our nation to utilize the seized assets and pay down our own debt.”
“Urgent action is imperative to crack down on Russia’s ghost fleet—a Putin tool financing his bloody assault on Ukraine,”said Blumenthal.“Our bipartisan legislation aims to help halt Putin’s illicit networks—unmarked shadow ships carrying Russia’s oil and other products—that evade sanctions and support his war. This measure will give our export controls real bite.”
Specifically, theGHOST Act:
Clickhereto view the bill.
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