A container ship bound for Russia was detained in Estonia on suspicion of smuggling

Boris Bodnar
Boris Bodnar Journalist
A container ship bound for Russia was detained in Estonia on suspicion of smuggling
The detained vessel, photographed from a PPA helicopter. Author: PPA
A ship flying the flag of the Bahamas was stopped in Estonian territorial waters during a joint operation by customs, police and the navy. The ship is suspected of smuggling cargo from Ecuador.

On 3 February, the container ship Baltic Spirit, flying the flag of the Bahamas, was detained in Estonian internal waters while en route from Ecuador to Saint Petersburg. This was reported by the Estonian Tax and Customs Board, according to ERR. The ship was stopped near the island of Naissaar during a joint operation by customs, police and the Navy.

The operation took place on 3 February at 17:10. The K komando special police unit boarded the ship, after which the container ship was detained under state supervision for customs control. A helicopter from the Police and Border Guard Board and the Navy ship Raju were used for the landing. The ship Admiral Cowan and the state fleet pilot boat Ahto 26 also participated in the maritime part of the operation. In total, more than 50 employees from various agencies were involved in the operation.

According to the investigation, the ship entered Estonian waters for bunkering and was at an official anchorage. The Estonian Navy emphasises that the Baltic Spirit does not belong to Russia's so-called shadow fleet and is not subject to European Union sanctions. The reason for the detention was suspicion of smuggling, not a possible violation of sanctions.

Marek Aas, head of the K komando special unit, said that the information about the ship was provided by customs officials. According to him, the operation went smoothly, the crew did not resist and was willing to cooperate. He also noted that the details of the possible offence, in particular the nature of the cargo, will be clarified in the course of further investigation.

The container ship is 188 metres long and carries a significant number of containers, each of which requires separate inspection. While the ship remains at anchor, it is planned to send it to port for a more detailed inspection. There are 23 crew members on board, all of whom are citizens of the Russian Federation. There are no Estonian citizens among the crew.

The investigation is ongoing, and its duration is currently unknown.

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