German Police Raid Cargo Ship Over Espionage Suspicions

German authorities have raided the general cargo ship Scanlark while it was passing through the Kiel Canal, amid suspicions that the vessel may have been involved in espionage activities targeting Germany’s maritime infrastructure. Both the ship and its crew remain under detention.

According to German media, the vessel departed Rotterdam bound for Finland before being intercepted on September 7 by special police units from Schleswig-Holstein. The large-scale operation included law enforcement officers and divers, with the search continuing into the following day.

Reports indicate that most of the crew are Russian nationals, who have since been prevented from leaving the vessel.

Investigators were prompted to act after suspicions emerged that a drone had been launched from the ship on August 26, potentially to photograph a German naval vessel. During the search, police reportedly uncovered equipment and antennas not typically found on cargo ships, further strengthening the case for possible espionage.