Container ship captain arrested for circumventing sanctions against Russia

Customs authorities arrested the captain of a container ship on Friday for violating sanctions imposed on Russia. In addition, they stopped dozens of containers believed to contain products prohibited from transiting under the sanctions regime.

Customs officials said the vessel operated frequent voyages between Rotterdam and St. Petersburg. Investigators suspected the shipping route was being exploited to evade European sanctions introduced over Russia’s actions, including the war in Ukraine.

Over the past few days, customs authorities have inspected several containers in the Port of Rotterdam. One of them was filled with car parts, including windshields, vehicle doors, bottles of engine oil, and air filtration systems. “These could be intended for passenger cars,” customs said. “But they could also be used for trucks heading to the battlefield.”

The containers are undergoing further examination. Investigations have also been launched on board the vessel and at two companies in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

Customs said the enforcement action focused on goods that are banned from transiting through Russia en route to other destinations, due to concerns that the shipments may ultimately stay in the country. Most of the cargo carried by the vessel comes from elsewhere in the European Union, according to customs officials.

The captain appeared before an investigating judge on Monday, who ordered that his detention be extended by a further two weeks while the investigation continues.