France lets detained Russian shadow fleet tanker leave waters after ‘several million euro’ fine

French authorities have let the Russian tanker Grinch leave France’s territorial waters after paying a fine.

“Circumventing European sanctions comes at a price. Russia will no longer be able to finance its war with impunity through a ghost fleet off our coasts,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X.

The ship’s owners were forced to pay a fine worth “several million euros”, Barrot said.

The French navy seized the Grinch in the Mediterranean and took it to the port city of Marseille last month on suspicion of being part of Russia’s shadow fleet, which Moscow uses to subvert international sanctions and sell its oil.

The company owning the ship was ordered to pay a penalty for not being able to justify flying the Comoros flag, French authorities said.