France detains Indian captain, crew members of suspected Russian dark fleet tanker 'Grinch'

French authorities on Sunday took into custody the Indian-origin captain of the Grinch (IMO: 9288851), a crude oil tanker that its naval forces had seized on Thursday (local time).

The tanker is suspected to be a part of Russia's sanctioned 'shadow fleet', and had also allegedly been flying a false flag. It was intercepted in the western Mediterranean, between the southern coast of Spain and the northern coast of Morocco.

The crew members of the Comorian-flagged vessel—all said to be Indians as well—were "kept aboard", according to the Marseille prosecutor's office, which is investigating the case, a Le Monde report said.

After French naval forces apprehended the tanker, they guided it back to the Port of Marseille-Fos, located just 500m away from the town of Martigues in southern France.

A French navy ship and two gendarmerie patrol boats have been stationed around the Grinch. Nautical and air exclusion zones have also been established around the anchorage site as the investigation continues.

"We will not tolerate any violation," wrote French President Emmanuel Macron in an X post announcing the seizure of the vessel.

"The operation was conducted ... with the support of several of our allies. It was carried out in strict compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," he added.

Shadow fleets, also known as dark fleets, are older vessels used by nations like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela to circumvent Western sanctions placed on products like oil and arms. 

"Russian tankers operating near European shores must be stopped. Sanctions against the entire infrastructure of the shadow fleet must be tough. Vessels must be apprehended," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an X post, in response to Macron's announcement.

He also suggested that the authorities confiscate oil from the tanker and sell it.