STOCKHOLM
Swedish authorities are investigating a cargo ship in the Baltic Sea accused of transporting stolen grain, officials said Saturday, in a case that highlights ongoing concerns about Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.”
The Swedish Coast Guard said during a news conference that the crew of the vessel, identified as the Caffa, is predominantly Russian. According to Swedish news agency TT, the ship is also on Ukraine’s sanctions list.
Swedish authorities boarded the Caffa on Friday after it entered Swedish territorial waters, conducting searches and interviews with crew members. TT reported that the vessel had been sailing under a Guinean flag and was allegedly operating under a false flag at the time of the boarding.
Authorities have raised concerns about the ship’s seaworthiness, and TT reported that at least one person is now under criminal investigation. Additional details about the Caffa and its crew were not immediately available.
The investigation follows Sweden’s announcement last year that it would intensify insurance checks on foreign vessels—a move aimed at tightening controls on Russia’s shadow fleet of aging ships.
These vessels are frequently used to transport oil and gas or to carry stolen Ukrainian grain while evading international sanctions and standard maritime regulations.
By James Kisoo
