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Commander of Russian tanker intercepted by France arrested
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Crime & Justice

Commander of Russian tanker intercepted by France arrested

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Under investigation
  • The Russian commander of the tanker Fagor, intercepted by France, has been taken into police custody.
  • The commander faces up to a year in prison and a 150,000 euro fine for false flag and evading authorities.
  • This is the third Russian "shadow fleet" vessel intercepted by France this year, amidst ongoing sanctions against Russia.

The Russian commander of the tanker Fagor, which was intercepted by French authorities on Sunday, has been placed under police custody, the Brest Prosecutor's Office in northwestern France reported Wednesday.

The Fagor, carrying 23 crew members, faces potential penalties including a one-year prison sentence and a 150,000 euro fine. Charges include operating under a false flag and evading control by French authorities. French President Emmanuel Macron had announced the tanker's interception on Monday, emphasizing its strict adherence to maritime law. The operation was conducted by the French Navy in international waters with support from allies like the United Kingdom.

unacceptable

— Emmanuel Macrondescribing vessels that attempt to evade international sanctions and violate maritime rules

Macron deemed it "unacceptable" for certain vessels to circumvent international sanctions, violate maritime regulations, and potentially finance Russia's war in Ukraine. The Atlantic Maritime Prefecture specified the interception occurred over 400 nautical miles west of Brittany, with the tanker originating from Murmansk, Russia, and heading towards Limbe, Cameroon. French authorities suspected a false flag operation, a common tactic for sanctioned Russian oil transport, and boarded the vessel in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Russia, however, described the operation as being "on the verge of international piracy." This marks the third Russian "shadow fleet" vessel, linked to transporting sanctioned Russian oil, intercepted by France this year. Previous interceptions include the Grinch in January and the Deyna in March, both suspected of operating under false flags. The Boracay vessel was also intercepted by French authorities in September 2025.

on the verge of international piracy

— Russian officialsdescribing the French interception of the tanker Fagor
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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