Estonian authorities have released the Russia-bound containership Baltic Spirit following an extensive search that yielded no evidence of drug smuggling. The operation, which involved a dramatic helicopter-borne boarding in Tallinn Bay, was prompted by intelligence from international partners. The 188-meter vessel left Muuga harbor at 2:15 a.m. after a thorough customs inspection that included unloading and examining suspicious containers before continuing its journey to St. Petersburg from Puerto Bolívar, Ecuador—a route that raised concern among investigators.
Vitali Zajarin, head of the narcotics service at Estonia’s Tax and Customs Authority, stated that the received intelligence was ultimately unsubstantiated. The operation on Tuesday afternoon saw police K-Commando swat teams boarding the Bahamas-flagged vessel as it anchored for bunkering. The boarding was smooth, with no resistance from the ship’s crew of 23. Estonian customs officials had been vigilant about the vessel due to previous intelligence indicating possible narcotics hidden in containers.
Despite intensive efforts, including transferring the ship to Muuga port for a meticulous search of the flagged containers, authorities found no illegal cargo. The Baltic Spirit is not believed to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet and faces no sanctions from the European Union. This incident underscores the challenges smaller NATO member states face in addressing international drug trafficking within busy maritime corridors, particularly as Ecuador serves as a significant transshipment point for cocaine destined for European markets.
