Swedish authorities have confiscated the Russian vessel “Caffa,” detained in March, amid suspicions it carried illegally obtained Ukrainian grain.
Seizure of the “Caffa” and Potential Ukrainian Grain Theft
Sweden has seized the Russian ship “Caffa,” part of a shadow fleet, which was initially detained by Swedish authorities in March near Trelleborg. Ukraine reportedly requested legal assistance in the matter.
According to prosecutor Hakan Larsson, a Swedish court will determine whether the ship will be transferred to another country in connection with the ongoing investigation. Swedish broadcaster SVT reports the ship, its operator, and crew are suspected of involvement in the theft of Ukrainian grain from Russian-occupied Crimea.
Charges and the Ship’s Condition
The “Caffa” was initially detained on March 6th by the Swedish Coast Guard for separate reasons. Its captain, a Russian citizen, was arrested for using a false flag and was released last week.
Reports also indicated the vessel was in poor technical condition.
“Caffa’s” Route and Russian Crew
The Swedish Coast Guard stated the “Caffa’s” crew of 11 was predominantly Russian. The ship was traveling from Casablanca, Morocco, to St. Petersburg without cargo and had previously docked frequently in Russian ports while sailing under the Russian flag.
Recent Swedish Ship Seizures
In recent months, Swedish authorities have seized several ships within their waters, suspecting irregularities in documentation or environmental pollution.