Sweden Confiscates Russian Shadow-Fleet Vessel Caffa

Swedish police boarded the 4 337-dwt cargo ship Caffa on 6 March 2026 in the Baltic Sea, bound for St. Petersburg. A crew member was detained for alleged maritime violations and forged documents. Following a request for assistance from an unnamed foreign state, the Swedish Prosecution Authority confiscated the vessel on 8 March pending a court decision on hand-over.

Euronews

Caffa sailed under a falsified Guinean flag and appears on Ukraine’s sanctions list. Russia’s “shadow fleet” of tankers with opaque ownership evades EU, US and G7 sanctions imposed after the 2022 invasion, moving grain seized from Ukrainian territories. Kyiv has asked Sweden, Israel and partners to detain such vessels.

Euronews

• 6 Mar – police board Caffa in the Baltic Sea.

Euronews

• 8 Mar – vessel confiscated after foreign assistance request.

Euronews

• 12 Mar – safety-deficiency detention order issued.

The Maritime Executive

• 23 Mar – Ukraine warns Israel about Russian bulker Abinsk.

The Maritime Executive

Prosecutor Håkan Larsson said a court can decide on hand-over. Coastguard head Daniel Stenling said intelligence shows Caffa “has essentially been used to transport grain that is stolen, as we understand it, from Ukraine.” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the move proof of Kyiv’s actions. Israel’s Grain Importers Association said Russian wheat supplier must find another port. Russian embassy said ten of eleven crew are Russian nationals.

The Maritime Executive

Swedish officials did not name the foreign state requesting assistance. The captain was released after prosecutors said they could not prove he knowingly used false papers. Reports first said Caffa carried stolen Ukrainian grain, later describing it as empty, creating a cargo discrepancy. Ukraine confirmed the request, while Sweden referred only to “another state.”

The Maritime Executive

• “I have decided to confiscate the vessel in order for the court to examine whether it can be handed over to the other state,” — Håkan Larsson, State Prosecutor, Sweden

Euronews

• “A foreign authority has asked for certain investigative measures to be carried out in Sweden, including one related to the vessel Caffa,” — Håkan Larsson, State Prosecutor, Sweden

Euronews

• “that it has essentially been used to transport grain that is stolen, as we understand it, from Ukraine.” — Daniel Stenling, Acting Head of Operations, Swedish Coastguard

Euronews

• “This demonstrates that Ukraine’s legal and diplomatic actions have been effective. This is also a clear signal to all other vessels, captains, operators, insurers, and governments: do not buy stolen Ukrainian grain. Do not become part of this crime.” — Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ukraine

The Maritime Executive

• “The Russian supplier of the wheat shipment will be required to find an alternative destination for its discharge.” — Israel Grain Importers Association

The Maritime Executive

The Caffa case shows how false flags and opaque ownership hinder sanction enforcement. A court-ordered hand-over could set a precedent for cooperation with Kyiv. Ukraine says it will keep urging partners to detain shadow-fleet ships, while Sweden and Israel weigh legal steps. European authorities plan tighter monitoring of similar vessels.

The Maritime Executive