The National Agency of Ukraine for Finding, Tracing and Management of Assets Derived from Corruption and Other Crimes (ARMA) has taken over the management of a sea vessel for subsequent sale. The ANKA ship brazenly violated the state border and entered the port of temporarily occupied Crimea, in breach of Ukrainian law and the internationally recognized status of the peninsula.

The seizure and transfer of the asset to ARMA took place pursuant to a ruling of an investigating judge, issued at the request of the Main Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea within the framework of criminal proceedings opened in connection with the violation of the procedure for entering and leaving the temporarily occupied territory.

ARMA has established effective cooperation with the Main Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, in particular concerning the transfer of vessels that constitute material evidence in cases involving violations of the occupied territory regime. This is neither the first nor the last example of how coordinated actions between ARMA and law enforcement authorities not only uphold legality but also turn material evidence into a source of benefit for the state.

Specialists from ARMA’s Southern Interregional Territorial Office have already conducted a technical inspection of the vessel, confirming that the asset is in good technical condition and ready for further use. This opens the possibility for its sale with maximum benefit for the state. Currently, the interregional office is gathering all the necessary information about the asset in order to prepare a high-quality tender offer.