French authorities on Wednesday imposed an administrative arrest on the oil tanker Grinch, which was detained on suspicion of belonging to Russia's 'shadow fleet,' reports the Marseille prosecutor's office, according to LETA citing DW.
The captain of the vessel, a 58-year-old citizen of India who was previously detained by French law enforcement, has been released and returned on board.
According to the French television channel BFMTV, the tanker was sailing from Murmansk under a false flag of the Comoros.
After the detention, the vessel was directed to the port of Marseille-Fos.
BFMTV also notes that Grinch is included in the UK's sanctions list and is also subject to sanctions from the European Union and the United States. It appears in 'blacklists' under different names.
The vessel was exporting petroleum products mainly to China and India.
After the detention of the tanker Grinch on January 22 in the Mediterranean Sea, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France was supported in this operation by several allies, including the United Kingdom.
The vessel was under international sanctions and was sailing under a false flag, Macron noted.
The so-called 'shadow fleet' of Russia mainly consists of old vessels that are used outside of Western insurance and registration systems.
These vessels are used to circumvent EU sanctions imposed after Russia's renewed invasion of Ukraine.
Revenues from oil sales, including at reduced prices to countries like India and China, are used to finance the war.
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