"Boracay, a Benin-flagged vessel blacklisted by the European Union for being part of Russia's sanction-busting "shadow fleet" of ageing oil tankers, was stopped by French authorities on Saturday, according to a military source who asked not to be named. Shipping data analysed by AFP has shown it was positioned off Denmark during mysterious drone flights over the country last month, including over military sites, that prompted brief closures at several airports."
"French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday urged Europe to "increase the pressure" on Russia's shadow fleet and follow his country's lead in detaining vessels used to fuel Moscow's war in Ukraine. "You kill the business model by detaining, even for days or weeks, these vessels and forcing them to organise themselves differently," Macron told a leaders' gathering in Denmark. He said on Wednesday, France was probing the ship for "serious offences", but stopped short of confirming reports of a connection to the Denmark drone flights."
French authorities intercepted the Benin-flagged tanker Boracay off France and detained its captain after the vessel was identified on an EU blacklist for participating in Russia's sanction-busting "shadow fleet" of ageing oil tankers. Shipping data showed the ship was positioned off Denmark during mysterious drone flights that briefly closed several airports and flew over military sites. French military personnel remained aboard while prosecutors probed the vessel for "serious offences". The captain was summoned to appear in court in February; the first mate was released after initially refusing to provide evidence of nationality. President Macron urged Europe to increase pressure by detaining such vessels.
Read at www.thelocal.com
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