Remember me
France's navy, acting on British intelligence, has seized a suspected Russian 'shadow fleet' oil tanker in a commando-style operation in the Mediterranean Sea.
Officials said the vessel was intercepted on Thursday after intelligence provided by the UK linked it to Moscow's sanction-busting network of tankers used to keep oil revenues flowing despite Western restrictions.
French maritime authorities for the Mediterranean said the ship - named Grinch - is suspected of operating under a false flag, a common tactic used by Russia's shadow fleet to disguise the origin and destination of oil shipments.
The French Navy boarded the tanker at sea and is now escorting it to port for further inspections and checks, authorities confirmed.
Oil revenue is a key part of Russia's economy, allowing President Vladimir Putin to pour money into the war effort against Ukraine without worsening inflation for everyday people and avoiding a currency collapse.
France and other countries have vowed to crack down on the shadow fleet of oil tankers which experts estimate numbers over 400 ships.
They are also trying to secure deals with flag-carrying countries to make it easier to board the vessels.
France's navy, acting on British intelligence, has seized a suspected Russian 'shadow fleet' oil tanker in a commando-style operation in the Mediterranean Sea. Pictured: The scene from the French Navy operation
Officials said the vessel was intercepted on Thursday after intelligence provided by the UK linked it to Moscow's sanction-busting network of tankers used to keep oil revenues flowing despite Western restrictions
'We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions,' French President Emmanuel Macron said in a post about the interception, with a photo showing a French helicopter hovering over a ship
The French mission was conducted together with the U.K, which gathered and shared intelligence that enabled the ship to be intercepted, according to French military officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the operation
'We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions,' French President Emmanuel Macron said in a post about the interception, with a photo showing a French helicopter hovering over a ship.
'The activities of the "shadow fleet" contribute to financing the war of aggression against Ukraine,' Macron added.
The French mission was conducted together with the UK, which gathered and shared intelligence that enabled the ship to be intercepted, according to French military officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the operation.
The ship was flying under a false flag from the Comoros islands, which are off east Africa, and its crew is Indian, the officials said.
It was intercepted in the western Mediterranean, off the southern Spanish coastal town of Almeria, the officials said.
Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet' consists of aging oil tankers used to secretly ship crude around the world by switching flags, disabling tracking systems and obscuring ownership in order to evade Western sanctions and price caps imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.
The UK has already imposed sanctions on more than 500 of the alleged shadow ships, which it believes are helping to fund hostile activity, including Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
According to ministers, actions taken by the UK and its allies have pressured around 200 vessels off the seas, most of which will have been travelling without a legitimate flag.
Share or comment on this article: Britain helps France seize 'Russian shadow fleet' tanker in commando-style raid in the Med