French arrest captain of Russian ‘shadow fleet’ ship

Oil tanker was off the Danish coast during drone incursions

- TAZ ALI

French police have arrested the captain and first officer of a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker that was seized off the French coast, as they investigate whether it was involved in last week’s drone incursions in Denmark.

Stephane Kellenberger, a prosecutor in the western French city of Brest, yesterday said that the two men are accused of failing to prove the ship's nationality and disobeying orders, with their detention extended.

The tanker, carrying Russian crude oil, was sailing off the coast of Denmark at around the time of the drone incursions, which began last Monday and led to the closure of several Danish airports.

Western officials believe the vessel is part of Russia's shadow fleet, a group of ageing boats used by Russian companies to ship oil products around the world while circumventing Western sanctions.