Swedish Authorities Confiscate Bulk Carrier Caffa Amid International Investigation
Swedish authorities have officially confiscated the bulk carrier *Caffa* following a request for legal assistance from a foreign state. This action intensifies an ongoing international investigation into the vessel, which is suspected of transporting stolen grain from Ukraine while operating under a false flag. The *Caffa*, measuring 96 meters in length, was detained by armed officers from the Swedish Coast Guard on March 6 as it approached the port of Trelleborg, allegedly flying a false Guinean flag. The vessel is listed on Ukraine’s sanctions list, and officials indicated that it had been involved in the transportation of grain taken from Ukrainian territory.
Prosecutor Hakan Larsson confirmed the confiscation this week, stating that the request for investigative measures came from an undisclosed foreign authority. “I have decided to confiscate the vessel in order for the court to examine whether it can be handed over to the other state,” Larsson explained. The *Caffa* will remain under Swedish custody until the investigation is complete and final court rulings are made regarding its potential transfer to the requesting nation.
Legal Proceedings and Crew Charges
The legal situation surrounding the *Caffa* has escalated, with one of the 11 crew members facing charges related to violations of both national and international law. According to the Russian embassy in Stockholm, ten of the crew members are Russian nationals. The charges include the suspected use of forged documents, breaches of maritime regulations, and violations of ship safety protocols. These developments highlight the complexities of maritime law and the challenges authorities face in enforcing regulations against vessels operating under false pretenses.
The *Caffa*’s confiscation is part of a broader trend of European authorities intercepting vessels linked to illicit activities. In March, Swedish officials also boarded the tanker *Sea Owl I* near Trelleborg, and earlier in January, the French navy intercepted a sanctioned vessel believed to be a Russian oil tanker operating under a false flag in the Mediterranean. Additionally, in Finland, three crew members from the Cook Islands-registered *Eagle S* are facing accusations of damaging undersea cables by deliberately dragging the vessel’s anchor across the seabed in December 2024. These incidents underscore the ongoing efforts by European nations to combat maritime crime and uphold international law in their waters.
