French authorities are set to auction off a luxury superyacht on Thursday, March 27, following its seizure in a high-profile money laundering case involving a Belarusian national.
The 41-meter vessel, named Stefania, will be sold at the shipyards of La Ciotat, near the southern port city of Marseille, with an estimated value of up to €12 million and a starting bid of €10 million.
The yacht, built in 2021, boasts an Art Deco interior and can accommodate up to 10 guests and six crew members. Its features include a pool, a jacuzzi, and a wood-burning fireplace.
De Baecque, the firm handling the auction, noted that Stefania contains unique design elements, such as glass-inlaid railings and a transparent flagpole, which have never been seen before on a yacht of its kind.
French authorities initially seized the vessel in 2023 during a stopover near Genoa, Italy, at the request of the Marseille prosecutor’s office.
The seizure was part of a broader investigation into alleged criminal activities involving Belarusian and Ukrainian nationals, including arms and drug trafficking, as well as money laundering by an organized gang.
The primary target of the investigation is Belarusian national Chaslau Koniukh, whom French authorities have identified as the owner of the yacht and a luxurious villa on the French Riviera.
Officials suspect that Koniukh laundered illicit funds through an intricate web of front companies and offshore accounts to acquire both properties.
An analysis of financial transactions linked to tax havens reportedly revealed attempts to conceal the fraudulent origins of the funds used to purchase the villa, which is located in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and valued at €10 million.
In May 2023, French authorities placed the property under judicial control, further tightening restrictions on Koniukh’s assets.
In October 2023, Stefania, which was flying the flag of the Cayman Islands, was spotted in Italy before being confiscated. At the time, the yacht had a market value of €16.5 million.
This is not the first time France has taken action against high-value maritime assets linked to individuals under investigation. In 2022, authorities seized another superyacht, the 86-meter Amore Vero, at the same shipyard in La Ciotat.
The French government claims the vessel is connected to Igor Sechin, the CEO of Russia’s largest oil company, Rosneft, and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. That yacht remains under investigation.
The upcoming auction of Stefania underscores France’s commitment to cracking down on illicit financial activities and ensuring that assets linked to criminal enterprises do not remain in circulation.
The sale is expected to attract high-net-worth bidders seeking a rare opportunity to acquire a state-of-the-art luxury yacht, while the proceeds will contribute to the state’s coffers and ongoing judicial efforts.
As European nations face increasing pressure to confiscate assets tied to criminal and sanctioned individuals, France’s latest move serves as a signal of its determination to uphold financial transparency and the rule of law.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
