British activists are among 21 crew members who say they are trapped on board a ship that was captured by Iceland last week. The protest vessel Bandero was boarded by armed officers late on Thursday after it tried to stop an Icelandic ship from hunting whales.
The campaigners, from the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, claim they are being mistreated by the Nordic country and not allowed to leave the ship. The activists – including two Brits – allege they are running out of supplies, being denied access to their chosen lawyers and blocked from calling loved ones.
Activist describes 'terrifying' capture
Metro spoke to Manolya Adan, 36, a British marine environmentalist trapped on board, using a laptop officers did not confiscate. She said of her capture: 'It was terrifying and incredibly dramatic. It was also unnecessary.'
'It feels like everything is stacked against us. We do not know what is going to happen next. Iceland is credited for having the best prison system in the world but what we have faced doesn't scream the civilization that we're promised.'
What happened
The Bandero was pursued by the Icelandic Coast Guard after it deployed a small boat to intercept a whaling vessel Hvalur 9. Commercial whaling, which involves hunting and killing whales, has been banned around the world since 1986 but Iceland is one of three countries which continues the controversial practice.
The country's Coast Guard said the Hvalur 9 requested assistance and that the Bandero ignored instructions to leave Icelandic waters. Icelandic special forces then boarded the anti-whaling vessel, from the Captain Watson Foundation, around midnight and detained it.
Crew alleges mistreatment
Manolya, a spokesperson for the crew, said: 'They boarded a moving ship – it was pretty scary. We were on the way out [of Icelandic waters]. They were armed to the teeth. The captain called us all and made sure we were all together on the bridge.'
The marine biologist claims officers confiscated the mobile phones of the crew and hauled the boat to a port in the capital, Reykjavík. The crew allege they are now blocked from leaving the Bandero in worsening conditions, except for when they are taken out for police interrogations.
'We're absolutely not allowed to leave the ship,' Manolya added. 'They are guarding us and there is a huge warship still beside us. We've been told that we need to be here for four weeks, although we have also been told we will be deported immediately. The authorities have given us absolutely nothing. We really are running out of fresh produce.'
Legal and human rights concerns
The crew – who come from various countries – claim they are unable to flush the toilets because they are not getting enough tank disposal. They allege that officers have treated them in ways that 'raise serious legal and human rights concerns'.
The Captain Paul Watson Foundation claim personnel were forced to hand over their phone and denied the right to call a loved one. Manolya added that officers allegedly 'blackmailed' crew by asking them to hand over their mobile phone pin codes in return for a phone call.
The Foundation also claims the lawyers they organised to represent the crew have not been allowed on board. Instead the personnel have been forced to use lawyers appointed by officers.
Interrogation claims
Recalling her police interrogation, Manolya claimed: 'They had pieces of paper written in Icelandic which had already been printed out. They were pushing me to sign things that I did not understand. I felt coerced and I signed it because I was exhausted.'
'I had an English translator who tried his best but other members of the crew did not have the relevant translator with them.' The activist alleges that a female crew member was observed as she slept by an armed officer, while three others were made to wait in their underwear for hours in an Icelandic cell.
Manolya continued: 'It is difficult. We don't know what is going on. Everyone is really frustrated. The crew is very lucky to have each other. There is a real sentiment of camaraderie. We are having to fend for ourselves with what we have.'
Deportation and reaction
Icelandic national broadcaster RUV has reported that police will seek to deport the crew and ban them from returning to Iceland. Lucien Richardson, a British-French citizen on the Bandero, also told Metro: 'We have been illegally detained on the Bandero. Because we are not allowed on Icelandic territory we are stuck here on the boat. We have not allowed access to our phones, they have been confiscated. We could not call a lawyer or our family and loved ones.'
Metro understands the Foreign Office is aware of the Brits stuck on board the Bandero. The crew are most frustrated that they cannot continue their anti-whaling activities. Iceland still permits the hunting and killing of whales, and the country exports most of its whale meat to Japan.
Iceland's response
In a statement provided to Metro, Iceland's Ministry of Justice said: 'Since the situation began earlier this summer, it has been made clear that the Icelandic Coast Guard would, if necessary, exercise the powers available to it should circumstances require. The operation carried out on Thursday evening was one of the scenarios that had been planned for. It was executed successfully, no one was injured, and Bandero has now arrived in Reykjavík harbour, where the Capital Area Police assumed responsibility for the case.'
'The matter concerned not only the safety of the crews aboard the whaling vessels, but also the crew of Bandero. The case is being investigated in the same manner as any other criminal investigation, and it is essential that the rights of the suspects are fully respected throughout the process. Should members of the crew believe their rights have been violated, they can submit a complaint to the Police Monitoring Committee.'
'According to information provided by the police, legal counsel was appointed for every member of the Bandero crew, as required by law, and arrangements were made to ensure that an interpreter was present. It has been reported in the Icelandic media that the crew has been informed that they are to be deported from Iceland, pending a decision by the Directorate of Immigration. Beyond this, the Ministry is unable to comment on individual aspects of the case.'
The statement continued: 'Iceland has consistently advocated sustainable utilisation of living marine resource and, with regard to whaling, maintains a science-based and strictly regulated approach. The existing legal framework remains in force under the Whaling Act No. 26/1949 and the regulations issued thereunder. The total permitted catch is set in accordance with the advice of the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute and has been reduced for 2026 compared to previous years. The Minister of Industries has commissioned a comprehensive review of the legislative framework.'
Background
Paul Watson, 75, who founded the group, is not on board the Bandero but has had previous confrontations with whaling vessels which have drawn celebrity support. Watson was imprisoned in Greenland for five months in 2024 after being arrested on a Japanese warrant over charges of obstructing a whaling ship in 2010.
Manolya said the crew felt 'hopeless' they could not stop whaling while they were detained in Reykjavík. She added: 'We are here to protect the whales, and there is nothing we can do to control the barbaric practice'.
Iceland has previously been praised for how it looks after its prisoners. A recent study by a University of Portsmouth professor found prisoners were provided with 'tranquillity and good food', internet access and were paid substantially more than in other countries.
