Sweden detains Russian captain over forged documents
Kustbevakningen/TT
Swedish authorities have detained the Russian captain of Caffa,
the cargo ship boarded on March 6, on suspicion of using forged maritime
certificates and violating maritime safety laws, Swedish Prosecution Authority announced
on March 9.
Senior prosecutor Adrien Combier-Hogg said the coast guard found suspicious certificates when the vessel was searched. The suspect and other crew members are still being questioned. Prosecutors will decide on March 10 whether to seek pretrial detention or release the captain.
The Caffa was en route from Casablanca to St. Petersburg when the Swedish coast guard stopped it March 6 in Swedish territorial waters in the Baltic Sea. The vessel was flying a Guinea flag; Swedish authorities consider it a stateless ship, though it sailed under the Russian flag from 2017 until June 2025. In November 2025, Ukraine added the ship to its sanctions list for participating in the export of stolen grain from occupied Crimea.
After an inspection, the Swedish Transport Agency issued an
international ban on the Caffa's operation. The agency said the ship may not
leave its berth until identified deficiencies are corrected. It also said the
crew is in good condition and that the shipowner has not yet responded to the
agency's demands. The agency will review the ban once the deficiencies are
addressed.
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