Just weeks after Force Blue was detained by Italian authorities, another charter yacht has been boarded, with guests required to disembark and be accompanied to police headquarters.
On Friday, Axioma, a 47-meter (154-foot) ISA, was forced to pull into Lipari, just north of Sicily. According to Italian news reports, the police had received a tip that two Russian fugitives were onboard, so they boarded the megayacht and then ordered the crew and guests to come ashore. While the guests reportedly were in possession of Russian passports—with two guests being diplomats—the police later discovered that the tip was incorrect. They released the guests and crew, after clarifying that documents were in order and after the intercession of Luise & Co., which represents the charter party.
A video apparently filmed by a private individual shows that the yacht was escorted by a helicopter and a few vessels, one clearly identified as being operated by the Guardia di Finanza, which is the Italian police force under the authority of the Minister of Economy and Finance. The Guardia is charged with investigating and preventing financial evasions and violations, surveillance at sea for financial police purposes, and generally helping to defend the Italian borders.
I contacted Luise & Co. for commentary, but I did not receive it by this posting. However, the Italian news reports printed a statement from the firm. In part, it reads: “What is most disconcerting…[is] that all persons subject to the establishment remained in the barracks for about five hours without being able to eat.” It further explains that even after the guests were released, “no one has bothered to apologize, even with regard to the fact that among the guests there were two senior Russian diplomats.”
Axioma, with her crew and guests back onboard, were permitted to depart Lipari on Friday afternoon.
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