France announced on Monday that a suspected Russian oil tanker had been detained in the Atlantic Ocean over the weekend, marking the latest seizure aimed at disrupting Moscow's sanctions-evading 'shadow fleet.'
Operation Details
The Tagor was intercepted on Sunday morning in international waters with assistance from the United Kingdom and other partners, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. French authorities reported that the tanker was en route from Murmansk in northwestern Russia when it was boarded.
A spokesperson for the maritime prefecture stated that the ship was falsely flying a Cameroonian flag and was heading toward Limbe, a coastal city in western Cameroon.
Macron's Statement
Emmanuel Macron condemned the vessel's actions, stating: 'It is unacceptable for ships to circumvent international sanctions, violate the law of the sea, and fund the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for more than four years.' He added that such ships, which fail to adhere to basic maritime navigation rules, also pose environmental and safety risks.
Macron shared a video of the operation, which showed commandos rappelling from a helicopter onto the ship. He confirmed that the operation was conducted in international waters in the Atlantic, with support from several partners, including the United Kingdom.
Seizure Location and Crew
The Atlantic maritime prefecture reported that the interception occurred more than 400 nautical miles west of Brittany. The Tagor, carrying 23 crew members, is being escorted by the French navy to an anchorage point for further inspections.
Guillaume Le Rasle, spokesman for the Atlantic maritime prefecture, confirmed that the tanker is subject to both EU and US sanctions. 'It is a vessel that was known and tracked,' he said. The decision to divert the ship was made on Sunday evening, with the objective of verifying the validity of its flag.
Flag Irregularities
The Tagor had frequently changed flags, a practice known as flag-hopping, to evade detection. The last time it transmitted an automatic identification system (AIS) signal, a week prior, it was sailing off the Norwegian coast under a Madagascan flag, according to MarineTraffic tracker.
The vessel was 'almost empty' at the time of boarding, Le Rasle added. The 'shadow fleet' often employs such tactics, using invalid registrations to avoid tracking.
Previous Seizures
Since September, France has boarded three other ships believed to be part of Russia's shadow fleet. In September, the French navy intercepted the Boracay, which claimed to be flagged in Benin. Its Chinese captain was tried in absentia, and a French court issued an arrest warrant and a one-year jail sentence in March.
In January, French forces impounded the Grinch, another suspected Russian tanker, and in March, the Deyna, which sailed from Murmansk under a Mozambican flag, was detained in Marseille. In April, France announced plans to double penalties for ships failing to fly a flag or refusing to comply.
International Sanctions
Several Western countries have imposed sanctions on hundreds of vessels in Russia's shadow fleet following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Nearly 600 ships suspected of being part of this fleet are subject to EU sanctions. Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the detention of Russia-linked vessels as 'piracy.'
The Daily Mail has contacted the UK Ministry of Defence for comment.
