French naval forces, with help from Britain, stopped a Russian oil tanker. This happened in the western Mediterranean Sea last Thursday. The ship was taken to Marseille-Fos port. It is being investigated for breaking sanctions and using a fake flag. French prosecutors said on Friday the tanker is called 'Grinch'. They cannot confirm its nationality. This makes people question who really owns it and what it is doing.
The ship was found in international waters. These waters are between Spain and Morocco. The operation used a navy ship and two helicopters. Soldiers landed on the tanker to take control. This shows how serious the situation is. The 'Grinch' left Murmansk in early January. It was expected to arrive in France on Saturday.
The main reason for the investigation is that the 'Grinch' might be part of Russia's "shadow fleet." This fleet is thought to help Russia sell oil internationally. These ships are used to avoid sanctions. Sanctions were put in place after Russia invaded Ukraine. This helps Russia continue to earn money from oil.
The 'Grinch' was sailing under the flag of Comoros. However, this may not be its only connection. The tanker is also believed to be under UK sanctions. Another ship with the same registration number, the 'Carl', is already sanctioned by the US and EU. This suggests a plan to hide the ship's owners and activities. This is often done to avoid sanctions.
French prosecutors are trying to understand who owns and controls the 'Grinch'. The difficulty in confirming its nationality is important. It suggests a deliberate attempt to hide information. The investigation should reveal how Russia tries to keep selling oil despite sanctions. This interception shows that naval forces are watching. It also shows the world is serious about enforcing sanctions.