Sweden Inspects Russian Vessel in Territorial Waters

(MENAFN) Swedish authorities have detained a Russian-flagged cargo ship in territorial waters following a dramatic nighttime boarding operation that raises fresh questions about Moscow-linked maritime activity in the Baltic region.

The vessel Adler remained under official custody Sunday morning, anchored near Hoganas along Sweden's southwestern coastline after experiencing what officials described as mechanical failure at sea.

Sweden's Customs Administration spearheaded the Saturday evening seizure, deploying a multi-agency taskforce that included the Coast Guard, National Task Force, Swedish Security Service, and prosecutors in a coordinated enforcement action, according to a broadcaster.

Investigators are now scrutinizing the ship's cargo, crew, and route amid revelations about its controversial ownership structure.

The Adler is registered to M Leasing LLC, a Russian firm that appears on both American and European Union sanctions registries due to alleged involvement in weapons shipments supporting Russia's military operations, the broadcaster reported.

The timing of the vessel's engine troubles—which forced it into Swedish jurisdiction—has sparked speculation about whether the mechanical issues were genuine or potentially fabricated, though authorities have not publicly commented on that possibility.

Sweden's heightened maritime vigilance follows a series of suspected sabotage incidents targeting critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, including damaged telecommunications cables and pipelines that Nordic nations believe may involve Russian shadow fleet operations.

The investigation continues as the ship remains detained under Swedish authority.

MENAFN21122025000045017169ID1110508550