Recent reports indicate that French authorities have detained a tanker linked to a Russian shadow fleet and arrested its Indian captain. The vessel, identified as Grinch, was intercepted in the Mediterranean after leaving Murmansk in the Russian Arctic. French President Emmanuel Macron noted that the tanker is under international sanctions and is suspected of operating under a false flag, which is part of efforts to finance Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.
Currently docked near Marseille, the Grinch is secured by authorities, with the rest of its crew—composed entirely of Indian nationals—remaining aboard. The 58-year-old captain is being questioned as part of an investigation regarding the ship’s flag, which was reportedly that of the Comoros Islands. Macron announced these developments on Thursday, reinforcing France’s dedication to upholding international law and enforcing sanctions against violators, especially post-Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
This incident follows a recent operation in January, where British forces assisted a U.S.-led mission to seize a sanctioned tanker in the Atlantic suspected of transporting oil for Russia and Venezuela. In October, France had previously intercepted another sanctioned vessel, Boracay, but it was released without further action.
The trend of using shadow vessels has become more common among nations like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela seeking to circumvent Western sanctions. Estimates from S&P Global suggest that approximately 20% of oil tankers are involved in smuggling operations related to these sanctioned countries.
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