Swedish Coast Guard and police have boarded the ship Caffa in an operation off the coast of Trelleborg. The joint operation, codenamed 'Svart kaffe' (Black Coffee), involved helicopters and boats and took place on Swedish territorial waters on Friday afternoon. According to the Swedish Coast Guard, the vessel was carrying grain and was en route to Saint Petersburg.
The ship is listed on Ukraine's sanctions registry and sails under a Guinean flag, but authorities suspect the flag registration may be false. A preliminary investigation has been opened regarding suspected violations of maritime law concerning inadequate seaworthiness. Coast Guard spokesperson Valdemar Lindekrantz confirmed that search and interrogation operations were still ongoing on Saturday morning, following a pause overnight.
The vessel was carrying grain and was en route to Saint Petersburg.
The vessel is currently located approximately three nautical miles south of Trelleborg and is considered stateless due to the suspected false flagging. A press conference was scheduled for Saturday afternoon to provide further details about the operation.
Search and interrogation operations were still ongoing on Saturday morning, following a pause overnight.