French customs detained the ship, called the Baltic Leader, during a patrol. Customs was supported by police and navy boats. The cargo ship is believed to be owned by a company hit by EU sanctions against Moscow. “There are strong suspicions that the ship could be linked to Russian interests affected by the sanctions,” the French Maritime Prefecture said.
The Russian PSB leasing company, part of the Russian bank of the same name, denied being the owner of the ship today. According to the bank, the Baltic Leader was already sold before sanctions were imposed. PSB is on the sanction list.
The 127-meter freighter has been escorted to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer. Customs will conduct further investigations there. The Russian embassy in France has asked for an explanation from the French authorities, the Russian state news agency RIA reported. The embassy says it will lodge a protest with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“International payment transactions more difficult due to sanctions”