Italian authorities have arrested a merchant vessel in the port of Brindisi that had previously called at the Russian port of Novorossiysk. The detention was based on European Union sanctions.
What is officially known
▪️ The vessel arrived in Brindisi from Novorossiysk with a cargo of approximately 33,000 tons of ferrous metals.
▪️ The vessel was officially flying the flag of an oceanic island nation, but the route and nature of the cargo raised questions among regulatory authorities.
▪️ The arrest was carried out by the Guardia di Finanza jointly with Italian customs authorities.
▪️ Both the vessel and the cargo have been blocked, and an investigation has been launched.
📚 Italian authorities point to a violation of the EU sanctions regime in place regarding trade with Russia. The issue concerns a ban on the import of certain categories of goods, as well as attempts to circumvent sanctions by changing flags, ownership chains, and ports of call.
At present, official sources are not disclosing the vessel’s name or flag.