US Sets up Tasks Force to Hunt Russian Oligarchs

The US has set up an international task force to hunt down and seize the assets of Russian elites and oligarchs.

The group includes Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Italy and the European Commission, according to the US Treasury Department.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Attorney General Merrick Garland has  held  first virtual meeting with representatives of all the participating countries.

“In the last three weeks alone, information provided by US law enforcement to foreign partners has helped detain several vessels controlled by sanctioned individuals and entities,” the US Treasury Department said, adding that the ships seized are worth “hundreds of millions of dollars.”

The members of the working group have also been given a list of 50 people to focus their investigations on.

BBC/Christopher Ojilere