French navy intercepts and boards 'shadow fleet' ship, Macron says
Macron said the tanker was suspected of false flagging and illegal fuel trafficking as France steps up action against Russia’s shadow fleet.
- On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the French Navy boarded the oil tanker DF Peak in the Indian Ocean, more than 450 nautical miles south of Réunion Island, suspected of illegal fuel trafficking and false flagging.
- Operating as part of a global 'shadow fleet,' the 2006-built tanker allegedly conceals cargo origins to evade Western sanctions on Russian energy using complex ownership structures and flags of convenience.
- The French Armed Forces General Staff confirmed the operation utilized Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea , which authorizes warships to board vessels suspected of fraudulent flagging.
- Minister Catherine Vautrin congratulated personnel involved and confirmed the military is escorting the tanker for further checks under the authority of the prefect of Réunion Island pending legal proceedings.
- European nations have reported multiple interceptions of Russian-linked vessels in recent months, building on a June incident where French forces boarded the tanker 'Deliver' off the coast of Sicily 'in violation of maritime law,' Macron announced.
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36 Articles
The French detained a tanker with oil from Venezuela off the coast of Madagascar
The French detained a tanker with oil from Venezuela off the coast of MadagascarThe French Navy seized the Benin-flagged oil tanker DF Peak, en route from Venezuela to the Canary Islands. It happened in the area of Madagascar, 450 nautical miles...
"France is determined to fight the 'ghost fleet'," Macron said on social network X, displaying brief images of the operation.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced Monday that the navy had intercepted an oil tanker off Reunion Island on suspicion of sailing under a false flag.
EADaily, October 12, 2026: France seized an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean, as reported on social network X by President Emmanuel Macron.
The oil ship "DF Peak" was docked off Réunion. Emmanuel Macron praised this operation.
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