France Has Arrested The Russian Captain Of A Shadow Fleet Tanker
1- 3.06.2026, 20:49
The vessel was using a false flag of Cameroon.
The captain of the Tagor oil tanker detained by French authorities, an unnamed Russian citizen, was arrested on June 2, France 24 reported, citing the prosecutor of the French city of Brest, Stephane Kellenberger. He said the detainee faces up to one year in prison and a fine of 150,000 euros. The same liability could be imposed on the owner of the ship, which is suspected of belonging to Russia's shadow fleet. His identity is now being established, the prosecutor said.
The internationally sanctioned Tagor was detained by the French navy in the Atlantic Ocean 740 kilometers west of Brittany on the morning of May 31 with the support of Britain. The tanker was traveling from Russia and was being used to finance the war against Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron claimed. According to the French government, the vessel used a false flag of Cameroon and its captain disobeyed orders from authorities. This is the third shady tanker detained by the French Navy since the beginning of 2026.
Tagor is suspected of transporting Russian or Iranian oil despite international sanctions, and according to the Opensanctions.org database, it is linked to oil tycoon Mohammed Hossein Shamkhani (son of an adviser to former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Shamkhani). The ship left Murmansk on its last voyage, according to Paris, heading for the Cameroonian port of Limbe.
Russian authorities have demanded the captain's release and called the charges against him "far-fetched." According to the Russian embassy in France, diplomats have appealed to the republic's Foreign Ministry demanding "immediate consular access to the Russian citizen and ensuring his speedy release."
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