A Russian nationwide accused of jacking a large luxurious yacht and main authorities in Florida on a ship chase the place SWAT officers needed to be deployed to safe the vessel was granted asylum within the US.
Nikolai Vilkov, 29, was arrested on Could 5 after the Martin County Sheriff’s Workplace and different companies had to make use of smaller boats to pin the stolen 68-foot, two-million-dollar yacht towards the shoreline in Jupiter Island, Sheriff John Budensiek mentioned in a press convention.
Budensiek mentioned the “weird” ordeal began at round 1:07 a.m., when Vilkov is suspected of stealing a tow boat simply hours earlier than the chase.
Investigators discovered the suspect on the Fortunate Shuck restaurant in Jupiter, then wandering round by the boats docked within the marina close to the bar round 2 a.m.
Minutes later, Vilkov allegedly took management of a tow boat and headed north.
His first boat-jacking ended when the vessel obtained caught on a sandbar and he was pressured to flee the scene and stroll down US 1 Freeway, Budensiek mentioned.
Investigators mentioned they overlooked Vilkov’s whereabouts from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m. till he was noticed chatting with folks on the Tiki 52 Bar & Grill close to the Blowing Rocks Marina.
Budensiek mentioned witnesses informed police they noticed the suspect getting on and off the 68-foot yacht, however he was capable of mix in like he belonged.
The marina’s dockmaster reported the luxurious vessel had been stolen at 3:55 p.m.
Authorities deployed a number of boats that “locked on to” the vessel, however have been at an “excessive tactical drawback.”
“We’re speaking a few three-story yacht, 68-foot, and our vessels with one or two marine officers weren’t suited to securely take these people into custody,” Budensiek mentioned.
Police had shut down the Hobe Sound bridge, a drawbridge on Indian River, in an try to finish the chase, however have been pressured to open it for security causes when Vilkov obtained nearer.
Nonetheless, a few quarter mile later, Vilkov appeared to have hassle maneuvering the yacht, giving the police boats and SWAT officers on the shore the prospect to take again the ship.
SWAT operators used tear fuel and breaching rounds on the yacht because it was pinned down, then known as out for the suspect to give up, however obtained no response.
Vilkov surrendered to authorities and was taken into custody. He informed investigators that he spoke little English, however they weren’t shopping for the excuse.
“We do know that he interacted with Jupiter police earlier within the day,” Budensiek mentioned. “We all know he interacted with folks within the docks, so we don’t actually consider him in that regard.”
The Division of Homeland Safety used a Russian translator for the interview, the place Vilkov was “caught in a large number of lies” and tried to “body that he was insane.”
Investigators discovered that the Vilkov had a spouse and youngster and that they flew from Turkey to Mexico in November 2022.
They have been granted asylum in Mexico and allowed to enter the US by the Southern border in the course of the Biden administration in December 2022, Budensiek revealed.
Whereas Vilkov’s whereabouts from 2022 to 2025 are unknown, his driver’s license exhibits that he’s from Charlotte, North Carolina. His spouse and youngster additionally flew again to Russia from the US in April 2024.
“This does spotlight an issue that we’ve seen with immigration, unlawful immigration particularly. We don’t know what he did in Russia,” Budensiek mentioned. “We all know he confirmed up on the Mexican border; he was allowed into our nation, however we don’t know what his prison historical past is abroad. So we might be coping with an actual dangerous man or not, however we’re simply undecided.”
Investigators have but to uncover any prior run-ins with the legislation that Vilkov has had since being within the US.
His motives for stealing the 68-foot yacht, or how he knew find out how to function it, stay a thriller.
Authorities speculated that Vilkov was stealing the ship to the “Bahamas for a smuggling enterprise,” however they weren’t “capable of confirm that.”
Vilkov is being held with out bond and charged with grand theft of a motorized vehicle, aggravated fleeing and eluding, and resisting arrest with out violence.
“He has an ICE detainer on him, and the following time he steals a vessel… it’ll be again in Russia, not right here in the US,” Budensiek mentioned. “When he serves his time right here, he’ll be deported out of our nation.”
