French authorities announced Thursday that they will bring to trial the captain of the ship Boracay, a suspected Russian oil transport vessel that has been blacklisted by the EU as a part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” which circumvents sanctions placed on Russian oil exports.

French authorities boarded the Benin-flagged ship on September 27 off the coast of Denmark after crew members failed to confirm the vessel’s nationality and refused to cooperate. The captain and the first mate, both Chinese nationals, were detained and brought to France with the Boracay, which is now anchored off the nation’s Atlantic coast.

The first mate has been released with no charges, but the captain of the vessel has been ordered to appear in court February 23 and if convicted could face one year in pri

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