The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is aiding a Florida investigation into a Russian man who stole a $2.5 million yacht by sending an interpreter, according to law enforcement.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) released a statement saying they apprehended Nikolai Vilka, the Russian suspect, Monday after a chase at sea. Vilka allegedly “stole a 66-foot luxury yacht.” The dockmaster told law enforcement the ship was stolen, prompting officers to respond. (RELATED: Reporter Asks Trump If He Will Order Investigation Into Nord Stream Pipeline Explosion)
“Vilka claims he does not speak English. As a result, the Department of Homeland Security is en route to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office with a Russian interpreter to assist with the investigation,” MCSO said.
“This is a first for me and a first for the Sheriff’s Office that I’m aware of where we had a situation like this,” MCSO Sheriff John Budensiek told WPBF 25 News. “Because it’s such an unbelievable story, we started reaching out and trying to find out if this is a repo deal or if there was somebody allowed to use this vessel.”
It was only when authorities confirmed that there was no legitimate reason for the yacht to leave the marine that they began the pursuit, according to the sheriff.
Multiple teams were dispatched in the effort to catch the allegedly stolen ship.
The deputies, however, were chasing the yacht with smaller ships and were unaware of who was aboard, WPBF 25 News reported. “They’re lower. They’re looking up. They can’t tell what they’re looking at,” Budensiek said. “And had he had the firepower, he could have caused problems for our deputies.”
The suspect did not have a weapon, according to the sheriff, and deputies managed to catch up with and board the yacht.
“They were bowing to the side of that vessel and just shoved him as he was trying to get forward momentum. They just shoved him up into the mangroves,” the sheriff said. “They grounded him to where he could not move forward anymore.”
The MCSO captured the moment when they cornered the stolen vehicle.
The alleged thief surrendered shortly after that. The MCSO released photos of the moment they took the suspect into custody.
The agency is looking into whether the Russian suspect was part of a larger criminal organization, Budensiek said.
