Two Russian ship captains have been arrested and detained in separate cells after allegedly submitting falsified documents to the Swedish Coast Guard, according to reports from Swedish media. The captains were operating the vessels Caffa and Sea Owl 1, which are currently anchored in Swedish waters outside Trelleborg after being stopped in what authorities describe as planned operations.
The ships are suspected of being part of what is referred to as Russia's 'shadow fleet,' which reportedly enables income to support President Vladimir Putin's war efforts in Ukraine. Both vessels have been issued usage bans by the Swedish Transport Agency due to serious safety deficiencies and unclear ownership structures.
It's very difficult to say how long it will take. But since there are so many uncertainties surrounding the ownership conditions, the challenge of solving this quickly increases,
According to Expressen, the Caffa was stopped on the afternoon of March 6, 2026, while the Sea Owl 1 was boarded on the evening of March 12, 2026. The operations involved coordination between the Coast Guard, police national task force, and reportedly had naval and air force support on standby.
Mattias Lindholm, press officer at the Coast Guard, stated that resolving the situation will likely take considerable time due to the unclear ownership circumstances. 'It's very difficult to say how long it will take. But since there are so many uncertainties surrounding the ownership conditions, the challenge of solving this quickly increases,' he told Aftonbladet.
The Russian embassy has issued brief statements indicating they are monitoring the situation, particularly regarding the possible presence of Russian citizens in the crews. Meanwhile, the crew of the Caffa reportedly faced food shortages, requiring assistance from the Seamen's Church in Malmö.