Sanctioned Russian vessel inspected and released after emergency stop in Swedish waters
Photo: Kristianstadsbladet

Over the weekend, the Russian cargo vessel Adler attracted the attention of Swedish authorities following an emergency stop and suspicions of a potential sanctions breach, Swedish public broadcaster SVT reported.

The incident began on Saturday morning when the Adler, sailing north through the Öresund Strait, suffered a technical failure and sent a distress signal. The vessel subsequently anchored in Swedish territorial waters near the town of Höganäs.

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Due to the ship’s Russian origin and ownership by M Leasing, a company subject to US and EU sanctions, the case drew the attention of Swedish law enforcement and regulatory agencies. The company has previously been suspected of involvement in the transportation of North Korean ammunition allegedly used by Russia in its war against Ukraine.

On Sunday night, officers from the Swedish Customs Administration boarded the vessel. The inspection was carried out with the participation of the Coast Guard, the National Special Police Unit, and the Swedish Security Service. The inspection continued throughout Sunday.

Customs officials said the Adler had not planned to enter a Swedish port, but because of the emergency stop, cargo originating from a third country effectively entered Swedish jurisdiction, requiring verification of its legal status.

On Sunday evening, the case materials were transferred to the prosecutor. After reviewing the circumstances, the prosecutor decided not to open a preliminary investigation into a possible violation of the EU sanctions regime.

Following the decision, the vessel was allowed to resume its voyage. According to the Swedish Maritime Administration, the Adler continued sailing north without publicly disclosing its destination.

Swedish officials stressed that the inspection was part of broader efforts to counter suspected Russian hybrid activities and illegal maritime transport in EU waters. Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin said the government had remained in close contact with the relevant agencies throughout the incident and was continuously informed of developments.

  • Last week, Sweden announced that Russia starts providing military protection for tankers "shadow fleet" – warships patrol certain areas of the Baltic Sea, and armed guards have appeared on board oil ships.
  • In September 2025, France briefly detained boracay tanker from Russia's "shadow fleet" because of suspicions that it might be involved in drones over Denmark. In March of the same year, Germany detained another "shadowy" tanker, the Eventin, which has been anchored for almost a year.