French prosecutors say Russia-linked tanker ‘Grinch’ underneath investigation after interception in western Mediterranean.
Printed On 24 Jan 2026
The French navy has diverted an oil tanker, suspected of being a part of Russia’s sanctions-busting “shadow fleet”, in the direction of the port of Marseille-Fos for additional investigation, based on reviews.
The workplace of the prosecutor within the southern French metropolis of Marseille, which handles issues associated to maritime legislation and is investigating the case, stated on Friday that the ship had been diverted, however didn’t specify the place to.
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A supply near the case instructed the AFP information company that the tanker is anticipated to reach on Saturday morning on the port of Marseille-Fos in southern France.
The ‘Grinch ‘ tanker was intercepted by French naval forces on Thursday whereas on the excessive seas within the western Mediterranean, between the southern coast of Spain and the northern coast of Morocco, France’s maritime police stated in an announcement.
It added that navies of different international locations, together with Britain, supported the operation.
Video footage launched by the French army of the operation confirmed a unit of troopers descending from a helicopter onto the deck of the Russia-linked ship. The boarding of the vessel concerned a navy boat and two navy helicopters, based on reviews.
The Grinch, which was crusing underneath a Comoros flag, left the Russian Arctic port of Murmansk in early January and is suspected of working underneath a false flag and of belonging to the secretive fleet of ships that allows Russia to export oil all over the world regardless of worldwide sanctions as a consequence of Moscow’s struggle on Ukraine.
The AFP information company reported {that a} ship referred to as “Grinch” is underneath United Kingdom sanctions, whereas one other named “Carl” – with the identical registration quantity – is sanctioned by the USA and European Union.
Prosecutors in Marseille stated they have been investigating the ship’s alleged failure to substantiate its nationality.
The EU has imposed 19 packages of sanctions towards Russia, however Moscow has tailored to most measures and continues to promote hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil to international locations equivalent to India and China, sometimes at discounted costs.
A lot of the oil, which is vital to financing its struggle in Ukraine, is carried by what is called a shadow fleet of vessels working exterior of Western maritime business laws.
In October, France detained one other Russian-linked sanctioned tanker, the Boracay, off its west coast and launched it after a number of days.
The Boracay’s Chinese language captain is to face trial in France in February over the crew’s alleged refusal to cooperate with investigators, based on French judicial authorities.
