Customs officers, in a joint operation with the police and the Navy, detained a container ship flying the flag of the Bahamas in the internal waters of Estonia, which was heading to St. Petersburg, Russia.
On Tuesday, February 3 at 17:10, military sailors, police, and customs officers detained the cargo ship 'Baltic Spirit' flying the flag of the Bahamas near Naissaar Island, which was heading to Russia. Estonians suspect the 'Baltic Spirit' of smuggling.
The police special unit K-komando boarded the vessel, after which the ship was detained. The crew did not resist.
To board the container ship, the K-komando unit used a helicopter and the patrol boat Raju.
Support for the operation was also provided by the minesweeper Admiral Cowan and the pilot boat Ahto-26 from the state fleet. The Department of Transport was also involved in the operation.
The vessel was traveling from Ecuador to St. Petersburg. It entered Estonian waters for refueling. During the initial customs inspection, the ship was in the official anchorage zone. According to the Estonian Navy, this vessel does not belong to Russia's shadow fleet and is not under European Union sanctions.
