BREST, France: French authorities have taken into custody the Russian captain of a seized oil tanker believed to be part of Moscow´s “shadow fleet”, a prosecutor said Wednesday.
The French navy detained the Tagor on Sunday in international waters with British help on suspicion the ship was flying a false flag and after its captain refused to comply with orders.
It is the fourth ship that France has seized since September on suspicion of belonging to the “shadow fleet”, which Russia is accused of using to circumvent Western sanctions.
The tanker arrived in a harbour in Brittany on Tuesday.
The captain was arrested on Tuesday and faces up to one year in prison and a 150,000-euro ($174,000) fine, said the prosecutor in the northwestern city of Brest, Stephane Kellenberger.
The owner of the vessel, currently being identified, may be subject to the same penalties, he added.
