The crew of the anti-whaling vessel Bandero remains confined aboard the ship in Reykjavík, as reported by the Captain Paul Watson Foundation. The only individual formally charged is the vessel’s captain. The Bandero was seized by Icelandic authorities following an incident involving Hvalur 9, a whaling ship operated by Hvalur hf, while it was monitoring Iceland’s commercial fin-whale hunt.
Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the legal status of the crew. While the foundation claims that crew members are not allowed to leave the vessel, police reports indicate that only the captain and officers have been arrested. Allegations have surfaced that crew members were detained at gunpoint during the boarding process, with personal belongings confiscated without a warrant, though these claims remain unverified.
The Coast Guard reportedly pursued the Bandero using the patrol ship Freyja and a helicopter before boarding the vessel. Authorities stated that they took control of the ship after it failed to comply with their instructions. At the time of publication, there was no updated response from police or the Coast Guard regarding the foundation’s allegations.
