Main points
- The bulk carrier Caffa, suspected of illegally exporting Ukrainian grain and linked to the Russian “shadow fleet”, was confiscated in Sweden.
- The court will decide whether to transfer the ship to another state, possibly Ukraine, as part of international legal assistance.
The detained vessels Caffa and Sea Owl / Photo Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency/AP Photo/dpa/picture alliance
A bulk carrier suspected of involvement in the illegal export of Ukrainian grain has been seized in Sweden. The vessel may be transferred to another state as part of international cooperation.
The ship was detained on suspicion of exporting Ukrainian grain
Swedish authorities have seized the bulk carrier Caffa, which is linked to the so-called Russian “shadow fleet”, the Sweden Herald reports. The vessel was detained on March 6 in the Baltic Sea near Trelleborg.
According to the investigation, the owner and crew may be involved in transporting grain from temporarily occupied Crimea. Most of the crew members are Russian citizens, and the technical condition of the vessel is assessed as unsatisfactory.
The captain, a Russian citizen, was detained for using a fake flag, but was later released.
The court will decide the fate of the bulk carrier
Prosecutor Gokan Larsson said that the final decision on the fate of the vessel will be made by the court. This concerns the possible transfer of the bulk carrier to another state as part of international legal assistance.
According to media reports, Ukraine could have filed a request. If the court decides in favor of the ship, it could be handed over to Kyiv.
This case may become another precedent in the fight against the illegal export of Ukrainian agricultural products and the activities of the “shadow fleet.”
Due to the risk of sanctions: Israeli importer refused grain stolen by Russians
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Israeli importer “Centsiper” refused to accept a suspicious grain shipment due to the risk of sanctions.
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The grain may have been exported from Ukraine illegally, which has raised concerns among Israeli importers about sanctions restrictions.
Israeli importers are generally concerned about the situation with possible sanctions restrictions. They emphasize that the lack of clear explanations and support from the government makes it difficult to make decisions in such cases.