Oil Tanker ‘Grinch’ Seized in Mediterranean Amid Russia Sanctions Evasion Claims
Marseille, France, Web Desk: French authorities have detained the 58-year-old Indian captain of the oil tanker Grinch in the Mediterranean, suspecting violations of sanctions imposed on Russia. The tanker, originating from Murmansk, northwest Russia, was anchored at Fos-sur-Mer while investigators from the Maritime Gendarmerie and Marseille Ship Safety Center verify the vessel’s documents and flag legitimacy. French military footage shows personnel boarding the ship via helicopter. The tanker’s crew, all Indian nationals, remain on board. Officials suspect the vessel is part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” used to circumvent sanctions imposed after the Ukraine war. Europe estimates over 400 ships are part of this covert network, prompting coordinated crackdowns by France and other nations.
