France Opens Criminal Probe Into Captain of Suspected Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker

French prosecutors in Saint-Denis, Réunion, have opened a criminal investigation into the captain of DF Peak, a tanker suspected of belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet, Le Monde reported on October 13.

The case centers on the captain’s failure to justify the vessel’s nationality during an inspection at sea, which confirmed that its Beninese flag was irregular.

The offense carries potential penalties of up to two years in prison and a fine of €300,000 ($327,000), alongside the possible confiscation of the vessel.

Investigators are working to clarify the operating conditions of the tanker and identify both its owner and operator, who may also face criminal charges, according to the Saint-Denis prosecutor.

Currently, 21 crew members of various nationalities remain on board. They have been placed under restrictive measures limiting their movement for an initial period of 48 hours, which can be extended by a judge.

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France Detains Russian-Linked Shadow Fleet Tanker Deyna in Mediterranean

Mar 20, 2026 14:54

On the morning of October 12, the French Navy intercepted the crude oil tanker DF Peak in the Indian Ocean, more than 450 nautical miles south of Réunion Island.

Authorities detained the vessel over suspicions that it operated under a false flag to facilitate illegal fuel transport, an action French President Emmanuel Macron announced while emphasizing France's resolve to combat the shadow fleet globally.

According to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence War&Sanctions portal, the tanker was linked to the sanctioned Russian carrier Sovcomflot and remained subject to sanctions imposed by the United States, Canada, the European Union, Ukraine, Switzerland, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

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