Sweden detains unnamed commander suspected of leading shadow fleet tanker
A Stockholm court has ordered detention for an unnamed 28-year-old Russian captain who is accused by Swedish authorities of sailing a stateless vessel under the Comorian flag while forging maritime codes to evade sanctions on Moscow's "shadow" oil trade, according to prosecutors in Ystad last Friday; investigators are examining whether this ship was part of Russia’s broader illicit tanker network that has been operating for years.
Key Points
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1A Swedish court has ordered the detention and arrest of the unnamed Captain of a suspected 'shadow fleet' tanker.
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2The ship was boarded by Sweden's coast guard in late March while sailing under what authorities believe is an illegal false Comorian flag, likely phoney to evade detection as part of Moscow's shadow operations.
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3Swedish prosecutors are investigating allegations that the Russian captain forged documents and violated maritime codes during his time on board.
Developments
A 55-year-old captain of Russia's Sea Owl One tanker, suspected of sailing under forged Comoran documents to evade sanctions as part of Moscow's shadow fleet operation from Brazil to Primorsk on Sweden was detained by the Prosecution Authority. The Swedish coast guard boarded and questioned him after intercepting his vessel in Ystad waters while it appeared not registered with its flag state or carrying false papers, marking a second such detention involving Russian ships this week alone