France’s navy, acting on British intelligence, has seized a suspected Russian ‘shadow fleet’ oil tanker in a commando-style operation in the Mediterranean Sea.
Officials said the vessel was intercepted on Thursday after intelligence provided by the UK linked it to Moscow‘s sanction-busting network of tankers used to keep oil revenues flowing despite Western restrictions.
French maritime authorities for the Mediterranean said the ship – named Grinch – is suspected of operating under a false flag, a common tactic used by Russia’s shadow fleet to disguise the origin and destination of oil shipments.
The French Navy boarded the tanker at sea and is now escorting it to port for further inspections and checks, authorities confirmed.
Britain helps France seize ‘Russian shadow fleet’ tanker in commando-style raid in the Med