Swedish customs authorities boarded a Russian cargo ship anchored in Swedish waters early Sunday following reports of engine problems, officials confirmed.
The vessel, named Adler, had anchored off the coast near Höganäs in southwest Sweden on Friday. Customs officers, supported by the Swedish Coast Guard and local police, conducted the inspection shortly after 1 a.m., according to customs spokesperson Martin Höglund.
The Adler and its owner, M Leasing LLC, are listed on both EU and U.S. sanctions, with Western authorities suspecting the ship of previous involvement in weapons transportation. Ship-tracking data indicates the 126-metre roll-on, roll-off cargo carrier departed St. Petersburg, Russia, on 15 December, though its current destination remains unclear.
Swedish officials described the boarding as a routine customs inspection, but local media reported that intelligence services and prosecutors were also involved in monitoring the situation.
The incident occurs amid rising concern among NATO countries in the Baltic Sea over Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” — a group of vessels accused of evading sanctions and, in some cases, transporting weapons. The Adler has a history of scrutiny, having been previously stopped by NATO authorities, including a 2021 boarding by Greek forces over suspicions of weapons transport.
Recent incidents, such as damage to undersea cables and pipelines, have intensified monitoring of Russian-linked ships operating near NATO waters, highlighting the strategic sensitivities in the region.