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Swedish Special Forces Storm Russia-Linked Cargo Ship in Baltic Sea
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Swedish police boarded a Russia-linked cargo ship off the coast of Gotland in the Baltic Sea overnight on October 31, reportedly deploying an elite tactical unit to inspect a vessel operated by a shipping company previously investigated over suspected Russian intelligence and hybrid operations in Europe.
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According to Swedish broadcaster TV4 on October 31, the operation took place near the northwestern coast of Gotland and involved a dry cargo vessel measuring more than 80 meters (262 feet) in length.
Officers boarded the ship during the night and examined the crew’s identities and travel documents, Stockholm police spokesperson Carina Skagerlind confirmed. TV4 reported that Sweden’s National Task Force, an elite police tactical unit, participated in the operation. Police declined to confirm which units were deployed.
The vessel belongs to a shipping company previously investigated in connection with suspected Russian hybrid and reconnaissance activities. The operator maintains a presence in Kaliningrad, Russia’s Baltic exclave, where it says it recruits crew members.
According to TV4, the ship’s crew consisted of Russian nationals, although Swedish police did not officially confirm their citizenship.
The shipping company has attracted attention from European authorities following reports linking its vessels to unexplained drone activity in several European countries.
Maritime tracking data reportedly placed ships operated by the company near locations where unidentified drones had been detected. Investigators have examined whether some of these vessels could have served as support platforms for drones operated by Russian intelligence services.
European intelligence sources cited by TV4 assessed that the company’s vessels were highly likely to be operating in the interests of the Russian state. However, no direct evidence establishing the inspected vessel’s involvement in espionage or drone operations was publicly disclosed.
Authorities in several European countries have reportedly boarded and searched vessels belonging to the same operator in recent months. Following the inspection near Gotland, the cargo ship continued south along the island’s coastline.
In March 2026, Swedish special forces intercepted the cargo ship Caffa in the Baltic Sea over suspected involvement in transporting grain from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. The operation involved elite police units, helicopters, and the Swedish Coast Guard.
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