French authorities have arrested the captain of the sanctioned tanker Tagor after detaining the vessel off the Atlantic coast as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected sanctions evasion.
The tanker was intercepted by the French Navy on May 31 while sailing from Murmansk, Russia. According to French authorities, the vessel was suspected of operating under a false flag. Following an onboard inspection, officials ordered the tanker to proceed to a bay near Brest in western France.
After the vessel arrived on June 2, prosecutors placed the master in custody. He faces charges related to false vessel registration that could result in up to one year in prison and a fine of approximately $174,000.
Prosecutors said efforts are continuing to establish the vessel’s true ownership. Any identified owner could face similar penalties.
The Tagor is currently under sanctions imposed by the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States. French investigators say the vessel has used multiple claimed registries in recent years, including Guinea, Madagascar and Cameroon.
Russia’s embassy in Paris condemned the detention, calling the accusations unfounded and demanding consular access to the captain. Russian officials have previously described the seizure of sanctioned tankers by European authorities as an act of piracy.
French media reports suggest the tanker may be linked to a network involved in transporting sanctioned Iranian and Russian oil, although authorities have not yet confirmed the ownership structure.
France has intensified efforts against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, detaining four vessels since September 2025. Two previously detained tankers were later released after paying fines, while authorities continue to increase scrutiny of ships suspected of sanctions violations and deceptive shipping practices.
