French Navy Seizes Oil Tanker In Mediterranean Sailing From Russia

The French Navy on Thursday intercepted an oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea coming from Russia, as part of the mission targeting the sanctioned Russian shadow fleet, officials said.

According to Associated Press, French maritime authorities for the Mediterranean, after receiving intelligence provided by the UK, said the ship (Grinch) was suspected of operating with a false flag from the Comoros islands, which are off east Africa, and its crew is Indian. It was intercepted in the western Mediterranean, off the southern Spanish coastal town of Almeria, they said.

The French Navy is escorting the ship to port for more checks, the statement said.

According to AP, oil revenue is a key part of Russia’s economy, allowing President Vladimir Putin to pour

money into the war effort against Ukraine without worsening inflation for everyday people and avoiding a currency collapse.

“We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in a post about the interception, with a photo showing a French helicopter hovering over a ship.

“The activities of the ‘shadow fleet’ contribute to financing the war of aggression against Ukraine,” he added.

This comes as France and other countries continue to crackdown on sanction-busting shadow fleet of oil tankers which is believed to be over 400 ships.

AP quoted French military officials saying that French mission was conducted together with the U.K, which gathered and shared intelligence that enabled the ship to be intercepted.