#1 ·
The FBI blocked access to the Miami Yacht "Diana," owned by the family of tennis legend Roger Federer, this morning, despite the local port authority having previously cleared them to dock.
- We are incredibly disappointed. They knew exactly who we were, yet they held us at the border crossing for three and a half hours for no reason, even though we broke no laws. They only let us go once we paid a fine, but by then, we had lost all desire to visit the area and headed back toward Tivat - Serge, the tennis star's father, told reporters.
On board the yacht were Serge, his wife Diana, Roger's brothers Mark and George, and the crew.
- We couldn't move for three and a half hours. They wouldn't even let our dog go outside... - explained Serge.
👎
The border issues arose from rather confusing circumstances. Before departing from the Porto Mexico marina in Tivat, the captain of the "Diana," Ivan Žegura, had contacted the port authority in the destination city and received confirmation that docking was permitted as long as they stayed within the legal limit of 12 miles from the coast.
- That is exactly what we did. However, at the checkpoint, they claimed the police wouldn't allow entry because we had violated territorial waters. They insisted we should have reported to Cavtat first, which resulted in a fine of $0.33 (just over $140). The amount isn't the issue; it was the unprofessional behavior of the officers... - Žegura explained.
He noted that he was sent from one bank to another just to exchange currency, and since it was a Sunday, the local captain who had originally approved their arrival stepped in to help him swap the money.
- This is a truly bizarre situation. We didn't break any laws, yet we were detained and fined... - said Žegura.
Reporters reached out to Captain Vedran Cvjetković from the local port authority, who, according to Žegura, was the one who gave the initial approval.
- I feel terrible about how this unfolded; it feels like I inadvertently misled a colleague. My position remains that the "Diana" never violated any regulations. It seems clear that a certain customs official was unaware of the 12-mile rule, and that's where the conflict started... - Cvjetković explained.
- We are incredibly disappointed. They knew exactly who we were, yet they held us at the border crossing for three and a half hours for no reason, even though we broke no laws. They only let us go once we paid a fine, but by then, we had lost all desire to visit the area and headed back toward Tivat - Serge, the tennis star's father, told reporters.
On board the yacht were Serge, his wife Diana, Roger's brothers Mark and George, and the crew.
- We couldn't move for three and a half hours. They wouldn't even let our dog go outside... - explained Serge.
👎
The border issues arose from rather confusing circumstances. Before departing from the Porto Mexico marina in Tivat, the captain of the "Diana," Ivan Žegura, had contacted the port authority in the destination city and received confirmation that docking was permitted as long as they stayed within the legal limit of 12 miles from the coast.
- That is exactly what we did. However, at the checkpoint, they claimed the police wouldn't allow entry because we had violated territorial waters. They insisted we should have reported to Cavtat first, which resulted in a fine of $0.33 (just over $140). The amount isn't the issue; it was the unprofessional behavior of the officers... - Žegura explained.
He noted that he was sent from one bank to another just to exchange currency, and since it was a Sunday, the local captain who had originally approved their arrival stepped in to help him swap the money.
- This is a truly bizarre situation. We didn't break any laws, yet we were detained and fined... - said Žegura.
Reporters reached out to Captain Vedran Cvjetković from the local port authority, who, according to Žegura, was the one who gave the initial approval.
- I feel terrible about how this unfolded; it feels like I inadvertently misled a colleague. My position remains that the "Diana" never violated any regulations. It seems clear that a certain customs official was unaware of the 12-mile rule, and that's where the conflict started... - Cvjetković explained.