Swedish authorities took control of a vessel named Caffa in the Baltic Sea on Friday, amidst allegations that it was sailing under a false flag. The incident involved a special operation by the police, dubbed 'Operation Black Coffee,' which included special forces, indicating the seriousness of the situation. The vessel was seized near Trelleborg, and the coast guard reported that it boarded the vessel around 15:50 PM.

The Caffa is on Ukraine's sanctions list, according to Swedish public broadcaster SVT. Ukrainian authorities claim that the vessel has been involved in grain theft from the Crimean Peninsula, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. The vessel sails under the Guinean flag, but Swedish officials consider its status ambiguous, which raises significant concerns regarding the legitimacy of the flag under which it operates and its implications for international maritime law.

Due to the uncertainties surrounding the vessel's flag, authorities expressed that there is no state that can guarantee the safety and seaworthiness of the Caffa. Consequently, border authorities have initiated a preliminary investigation that initially focuses on concerns about the vessel's seaworthiness. This situation underscores the difficulties in maritime security and the enforcement of international regulations, particularly regarding vessels with dubious registrations operating in international waters.