New Senate Bill Aims to Boost Enforcement of Russian Oil Sanctions
Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., announced April 9 that they are introducing a bill designed to strengthen sanctions enforcement against Russia’s “ghost fleet” of oil-carrying ships.
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The Global Hunt for Offshore Smuggling and Trafficking Act, or GHOST Act, would create a “Russian sanctions enforcement fund” to pay expenses for seizures and forfeitures of Russian assets. It also would codify the Homeland Security Department’s Export Enforcement Coordination Center, which was created by executive order in 2010 to promote collaboration between U.S. agencies on export enforcement efforts.
The senators said improved enforcement is needed to cut the revenue Russia can use to fund its war against Ukraine. A researcher told the congressionally mandated U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission in February that although the U.S. and allied countries have sanctioned Russia’s “shadow” tanker fleet, some of those vessels continue to operate (see 2502200054).