A Chinese ship captain has been arrested in Sweden after authorities seized a tanker suspected of links to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, Reuters reports.
The vessel, Jin Hui, was boarded by the Swedish Coast Guard and police on 3 May in Swedish territorial waters near Trelleborg. The ship is registered under the Syrian flag.
Swedish prosecutors said the captain is suspected of carrying false documents and violating laws on seaworthiness. He was taken into custody and is set to be questioned.
Authorities believe the tanker may be part of a network of vessels used by Russia to bypass Western sanctions imposed following the war in Ukraine. The ship is listed on several sanctions lists, including those of the EU and the United Kingdom.
The interception marks Sweden’s fifth action this year targeting vessels linked to the shadow fleet, according to officials.
