U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) unveiled bipartisan legislation that aims to bolster the enforcement of U.S. sanctions against Russia’s illegal ghost ship fleet of unmarked ships that transport 70 percent of its seaborn oil exports and illicitly fund its economy.
“Russia is continuing its malign actions by operating a ghost fleet to evade U.S. sanctions, enrich its own war machine, and even aid Iranian oil smuggling,” Sen. Ernst said. “By enhancing intelligence sharing and equipping law enforcement with the tools needed to go after illicit trade networks, I am working to halt the Axis of Evil in its tracks.”
The Global Hunt for Offshore Smuggling and Trafficking (GHOST) Act of 2025, S. 1490, which Sen. Ernst sponsored on April 10 alongside bill cosponsor U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) would establish and authorize funding for a Russian Sanctions Enforcement Fund to enforce U.S. sanctions against Russia and its illegal ghost ship fleet.
The sanctions would be used to pay off the U.S. public debt and to codify the Export Enforcement Coordination Center, according to the text of the bill.
“In addition to disrupting Moscow’s efforts to undermine U.S. law, this bill will also arm our nation to utilize the seized assets and pay down our own debt,” said Sen. Ernst.
Specifically, S. 1490 would equip law enforcement with the means to seize and forfeit Russian assets, target merchant ships violating U.S. sanctions, and enhance intelligence sharing to counter illicit Russian trade networks, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Ernst’s staff.
Additionally, the measure would ensure interagency coordination by codifying the Export Enforcement Coordination Center, and redirect seized Russian assets toward reducing U.S. debt, the summary says.
“Urgent action is imperative to crack down on Russia’s ghost fleet — a Putin tool financing his bloody assault on Ukraine,” said Sen. Blumenthal. “Our bipartisan legislation aims to help halt Putin’s illicit networks … that evade sanctions and support his war.”