France detains the captain and has seized the oil tanker Tagor in the Atlantic, a vessel suspected of being linked to Russia’s “ghost fleet,” used to evade sanctions. According to French prosecutors in Brest, the captain is taken into custody after the French Navy boards the ship at sea. Separate reporting says the tanker is detained on Sunday morning in international waters after the Russian captain repeatedly refuses to comply with orders.
Other outlets describe the operation as involving support from Britain and allies, with the boarding taking place over allegations that the ship may be using false flag practices. The Tagor is described as connected to sanctioned shipping networks and suspected of carrying Russian and/or Iranian oil, including ties to an Iranian magnate. The Kremlin condemns the seizure, calling it “international piracy,” while France and its prosecutors treat it as part of enforcement actions tied to sanctions evasion.
Following the boarding and detention, the ship is brought into a French port. Authorities continue the legal process related to the detention and investigation.
