Overview
- French forces boarded the sanctioned tanker Grinch between Spain and Morocco after a voyage from Murmansk and diverted it for further checks.
- Marseille prosecutors opened a judicial investigation focused on the vessel’s failure to confirm its nationality as the navy escorts it to anchorage.
- UK-provided intelligence enabled the interception, with officials citing tracking and monitoring that included HMS Dagger through the Strait of Gibraltar.
- Authorities say the ship flew a Comoros flag suspected to be false and note the vessel appears on sanctions lists under names including Grinch and Carl.
- Moscow complained it was not notified as the action capped a series of U.S. and allied interdictions targeting Russia-linked tankers and reignited legal and escalation debates in Europe.