France has released the oil tanker Grinch, which was previously suspected of belonging to Russia's sanctions-busting 'shadow fleet.' The release occurred after the tanker's owner agreed to pay a substantial fine running into millions of euros. The French authorities, along with their allied forces, had intercepted the vessel last month as it was navigating near the coasts of Spain and Morocco, shortly after departing from Russian waters. Following its seizure, the Grinch was escorted to a port close to Marseille for further inspection.

The Grinch is believed to be one of many aging tankers that form part of a broader 'shadow fleet,' which has been used to transport Russian oil in violation of price caps imposed by Western countries and the G7 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. These vessels often change flags and operate under invalid registrations, complicating efforts by authorities to monitor their activities. MarineTraffic and VesselFinder confirmed that at the time of its release, the Grinch was sailing under a Comoros flag.

The release of the Grinch highlights ongoing tensions and the complexities of enforcing international sanctions against Russia. While the payment of the fine allows the tanker to continue its operations, it raises questions about the effectiveness of sanctions in curbing Russia’s access to international oil markets, as well as the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in tracking and regulating the activities of these evasive maritime operations.