Swedish authorities have taken a firmer stance against a fleet of vessels suspected of helping Russia circumvent international sanctions, culminating in the boarding of a cargo ship off the coast of Sweden on Friday. The move comes as both Sweden and other European Union nations increase scrutiny of these so-called “shadow fleets.”
The Swedish Coast Guard, with support from the National Task Force, intercepted the cargo ship Caffa near Trelleborg, citing concerns over its flag status and a suspicion that it was operating without legitimate registration. The operation, dubbed “Black Coffee,” involved helicopters and boats to board the vessel, according to Swedish broadcaster SVT.
“The ship has a predominantly Russian crew, a false flag, and is on Ukraine’s sanctions list,” said Daniel Stenling, Deputy Operational Manager at the Swedish Coast Guard. Authorities had been monitoring the Caffa for some time before taking action, intervening as it entered Swedish territorial waters.
One crew member has been taken into custody and is being held on suspicion of offenses including violations of maritime law, ship safety regulations, and the employ of false documents – considered a serious crime. The ship remains anchored as the investigation continues.
The incident highlights growing tensions between Sweden and Russia over maritime enforcement. In December, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Sweden of violating international maritime law after the Swedish Coast Guard boarded the vessel Adler off the coast of Höganäs.
Though, Maria Perrotta Berlin, a Russia researcher at the Stockholm School of Economics, told Sydsvenskan that Sweden and other countries have the right to board suspect vessels. “If a ship is behaving strangely, you have the right to intervene. There could be a reaction from Russia, but this is something you are entitled to do under maritime law,” she said.
The increased enforcement reflects a growing concern that these shadow fleets are not only being used to bypass sanctions but likewise potentially for hybrid warfare operations. “Recently, it has grow more common for authorities to stop these ships. It has been discovered that, in addition to circumventing sanctions, they have the potential to be used for hybrid warfare,” Perrotta Berlin explained.
Transportstyrelsen, the Swedish Transport Agency, has issued an international prohibition of use for the Caffa after identifying serious deficiencies during a port state control inspection. The agency has not yet disclosed the specific nature of these deficiencies, citing confidentiality, but confirmed the ship is prohibited from sailing further, according to TV4 Nyheterna.
Russia has expressed anger over Sweden’s decisive actions against the shadow fleet. This latest move underscores a willingness by Sweden and its allies to crack down on efforts to evade sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian Embassy in Sweden released a statement on March 6 regarding the boarding of the Caffa.
