Swedish Coast Guard Seizes Suspected False Flag Tanker Linked to Russia
Seizure of Tanker and Ongoing Investigations
Details of the Seizure
STOCKHOLM, May 3 (Reuters) - The Swedish Coast Guard said on Sunday it had seized a tanker in the Baltic Sea believed to be part of Russia's shadow fleet, the latest in a string of similar actions carried out in recent months by the country's authorities.
Boarding of the Jin Hui
The Swedish Coast Guard said in a statement that it and police had boarded the Syrian-flagged Jin Hui in Swedish territorial waters south of Trelleborg and begun a preliminary investigation into a lack of seaworthiness.
Suspicions of False Flag Operations
"The coast guard suspects that the ship is sailing under a false flag, given there are a number of irregularities concerning its flag status, and therefore does not meet demands for seaworthiness as set out in international regulations and agreements," it said.
Sanctions and International Implications
The coast guard said the ship, whose destination was unclear and was thought to be carrying no cargo, figured on several sanctions lists, including those of the European Union and Britain.
Official Statements and Russian Shadow Fleet
Swedish Minister for Civil Defence, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, said separately on X that the vessel was suspected of belonging to the Russian so-called shadow fleet.
Broader Context: Efforts to Disrupt Russia's Shadow Fleet
European nations have stepped up efforts to disrupt the so-called shadow fleet of tankers used by Moscow to fund its four-year war against Ukraine. Russia has condemned such moves as hostile.
Recent Actions by Swedish Authorities
So far this year, Sweden has stopped five vessels on suspicion of various offences, including oil spills and sailing under a false flag, and opened criminal proceedings against some crew members.
(Reporting by Niklas Pollard; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
