France Arrests Captain of Sanctioned Tanker
French authorities have taken the captain of the sanctioned tanker Tagor into custody after detaining the vessel off the country's Atlantic coast during an investigation into suspected sanctions violations, according to The Maritime Telegraph.
The tanker was stopped by the French Navy on May 31 while sailing from Murmansk, Russia. Officials suspected the vessel was operating under a fraudulent flag and, following an inspection at sea, directed it to an anchorage near Brest. After arriving on June 2, the vessel’s master was arrested and charged over alleged false registration documents.
French prosecutors said the offense carries a potential prison sentence of up to one year and a fine of roughly $174,000. Investigators are also working to identify the ship’s actual owner, who could face similar legal consequences.
MV Tagor is currently sanctioned by the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Authorities claim the tanker has operated under several different registries in recent years, including those of Guinea, Madagascar, and Cameroon.
Russia’s embassy in Paris rejected the allegations and requested consular access to the captain, while French media have linked the vessel to networks involved in transporting sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil. Officials have not yet confirmed the ship’s ownership.
