French Forces Detain Russian-Linked Tanker Off Saint-Nazaire

French media have reported the arrest of two senior officers from a Russian-linked shadow fleet tanker intercepted near Saint-Nazaire. President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that the ship was seized over “serious offences” committed by its crew.

The vessel, identified as the Boracay, was boarded by French authorities on or around October 1. Sailing under the Benin flag, the crude oil tanker was built in 2007 and had previously been blacklisted by the EU in February under its former name, Kiwala, for evading sanctions on Russian oil.

AIS tracking showed the Boracay positioned off Denmark between September 22 and 25. During that same period, drone activity was reported across Denmark, leading to temporary airport closures and a ban on civilian drone operations. Macron, however, did not directly link the tanker’s detention to these drone incidents.

French prosecutors confirmed that the individuals claiming to be the vessel’s captain and chief mate were taken into custody. Preliminary findings point to a “failure to provide proof of the vessel’s nationality” and “refusal to comply” with official instructions as central to the investigation.