Estonia has detained a Bahamas-flagged container ship, the
Baltic Spirit, in its territorial waters on suspicion of smuggling, ERR public
broadcaster reported on Feb. 3.
The vessel had been sailing from Ecuador to Russia, the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (MTA) said. Authorities stopped the Baltic Spirit at 5:10 p.m. Feb. 6 near Naissaar Island during a joint operation that included the K-Commando police unit, the Estonian Navy, the customs service and other agencies. The ship was anchored to refuel.
Officers boarded from a military helicopter and a naval vessel. The 23 crew members, all Russian citizens, offered no resistance.
“According to information available to the Estonian Navy, the vessel is not part of the Russian "shadow fleet" nor is it subject to European Union sanctions,” the MTA added.
After the initial inspection at sea, the ship will be escorted to port for a full container search.