French Navy seized dark fleet tanker DEYNA near Algeria in joint operation with British allies. Vessel was en route from Murmansk to Port Said carrying sanctioned cargo. Intercepted in Alboran Sea/Mediterranean. 8th dark fleet seizure in enforcement campaign.
https://www.osint-reports.com
2026-03-20
sanctions
SEIZURE
DEYNA
Unknown Russian shadow fleet operator
France / French Navy
French Navy seized MT DEYNA (IMO 9299903) on March 20, 2026 in the Western Mediterranean. The 250-meter crude oil tanker departed Murmansk, Russia on March 1 flying a false Mozambican flag. Boarded under UNCLOS Art. 110, escorted to Gulf of Fos/Marseille, arrived March 23. Under investigation by Marseille public prosecutor. No Russian nationals aboard. First French Navy seizure of suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker — signals EU enforcement escalation.
Belgium seized Russian shadow fleet tanker in North Sea Mar 1, 2026. First European seizure outside US-led Operation Southern Spear. Signals enforcement broadening to European waters.
Operation Blue Intruder (Feb 28 - Mar 1, 2026): Belgian and French naval forces seized Russian shadow fleet tanker ETHERA in Belgian Exclusive Economic Zone. ETHERA was sailing under a false Guinea flag with falsified ship documents. Belgian Navy intercepted the vessel with air support from two Belgian NH-90 and two French Navy NH-90 helicopters. 45 maritime infractions identified including technical defects. Russian captain and 20-person crew (majority Indian, 3 Georgian, 1 Indonesian) ordered to remain aboard. Vessel towed to Zeebrugge port. Held on €10 million bond pending criminal investigation by Belgian prosecutors. SIGNIFICANCE: First European seizure of Russian shadow fleet vessel, expanding enforcement beyond US-led Operation Southern Spear to European waters.
January 2026 — France seized Russian shadow fleet oil tanker GRINCH, marking the first European seizure of a Russian shadow fleet vessel. French naval forces intercepted the tanker carrying Russian crude in violation of EU sanctions. This preceded Belgium/France joint seizure of ETHERA in North Sea (Operation Blue Intruder, March 1 2026).
VERONICA (IMO 9256860) seized January 15, 2026 in southern Caribbean Sea off Venezuela. Guyana false flag. 6th seizure under Operation Southern Spear. Notably the 2nd time this specific vessel was captured. OFAC-sanctioned since Feb 22, 2022 (owned by PSB Lizing OOO, subsidiary of Russian Promsvyazbank). Prior history of transporting Iranian crude oil. Part of Venezuela-Cuba oil smuggling network.
US Navy seized supertanker SKIPPER in international waters between Grenada and Trinidad. 1.8M barrels PdVSA crude, 1.1M barrels destined for sanctioned Cubametales. Operating under false Guyanese flag. Largest oil seizure per Trump administration.
French Navy seized dark fleet tanker DEYNA near Algeria in joint operation with British allies. Vessel was en route from Murmansk to Port Said carrying sanctioned cargo. Intercepted in Alboran Sea/Mediterranean. 8th dark fleet seizure in enforcement campaign.
French Navy seized MT DEYNA (IMO 9299903) on March 20, 2026 in the Western Mediterranean. The 250-meter crude oil tanker departed Murmansk, Russia on March 1 flying a false Mozambican flag. Boarded under UNCLOS Art. 110, escorted to Gulf of Fos/Marseille, arrived March 23. Under investigation by Marseille public prosecutor. No Russian nationals aboard. First French Navy seizure of suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker — signals EU enforcement escalation.
Belgium seized Russian shadow fleet tanker in North Sea Mar 1, 2026. First European seizure outside US-led Operation Southern Spear. Signals enforcement broadening to European waters.
Operation Blue Intruder (Feb 28 - Mar 1, 2026): Belgian and French naval forces seized Russian shadow fleet tanker ETHERA in Belgian Exclusive Economic Zone. ETHERA was sailing under a false Guinea flag with falsified ship documents. Belgian Navy intercepted the vessel with air support from two Belgian NH-90 and two French Navy NH-90 helicopters. 45 maritime infractions identified including technical defects. Russian captain and 20-person crew (majority Indian, 3 Georgian, 1 Indonesian) ordered to remain aboard. Vessel towed to Zeebrugge port. Held on €10 million bond pending criminal investigation by Belgian prosecutors. SIGNIFICANCE: First European seizure of Russian shadow fleet vessel, expanding enforcement beyond US-led Operation Southern Spear to European waters.
January 2026 — France seized Russian shadow fleet oil tanker GRINCH, marking the first European seizure of a Russian shadow fleet vessel. French naval forces intercepted the tanker carrying Russian crude in violation of EU sanctions. This preceded Belgium/France joint seizure of ETHERA in North Sea (Operation Blue Intruder, March 1 2026).
📅 2026-01-15SEIZURE🚢 VERONICAUSSOUTHCOM / Joint Task Force Southern Spear
VERONICA (IMO 9256860) seized January 15, 2026 in southern Caribbean Sea off Venezuela. Guyana false flag. 6th seizure under Operation Southern Spear. Notably the 2nd time this specific vessel was captured. OFAC-sanctioned since Feb 22, 2022 (owned by PSB Lizing OOO, subsidiary of Russian Promsvyazbank). Prior history of transporting Iranian crude oil. Part of Venezuela-Cuba oil smuggling network.
US Navy seized supertanker SKIPPER in international waters between Grenada and Trinidad. 1.8M barrels PdVSA crude, 1.1M barrels destined for sanctioned Cubametales. Operating under false Guyanese flag. Largest oil seizure per Trump administration.
