Belgium special forces seize Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker

Belgium's special forces boarded and seized an oil tanker from the "shadow fleet" Russia uses to circumvent Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine, in an overnight operation announced on Sunday.

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The Belgian government said the "vessel from Russia's shadow fleet" was intercepted in the North Sea, with aerial support from French military helicopters.

Defence Minister Theo Francken said the tanker was escorted to the port of Zeebrugge to be seized, after being intercepted in Belgium's exclusive economic zone.

Prosecutors identified the ship, which was said to be on its way back to Russia, as the "Ethera."

The tanker flew the flag of Guinea, but an onboard inspection confirmed suspicion that it was sailing under a false flag, they said.

"Ship documents were found that are suspected of being false," the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement, adding that authorities have opened a criminal investigation.

"If a ship sails under a false flag, this means that it does not comply with several international regulations," the statement added.