A Chinese captain of an oil tanker suspected of links to Russia has been arrested by Swedish authorities on suspicion of using false documents and violating seaworthiness regulations.
According to Reuters, the captain, whose identity has not been disclosed, is due to be questioned by prosecutors. The vessel, the Jin Hui, sailing under a Syrian flag, was boarded by Sweden’s coast guard and police in Swedish territorial waters.
Officials believe the tanker may be part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a network of ships used to bypass Western sanctions imposed after the war in Ukraine.
The Jin Hui had appeared on multiple sanctions lists, including those of the European Union and the United Kingdom, and was reportedly not carrying cargo at the time, with its destination unclear.
This incident marks Sweden’s fifth action this year targeting suspected shadow fleet vessels, reflecting broader European efforts to crack down on sanctions evasion.
Russia has not commented on this specific case but has previously criticized such interventions as hostile.