On Saturday, Sweden's Coast Guard announced an investigation into the ship 'Caffa,' which has a crew predominantly composed of Russians. The vessel is listed in Ukraine's sanctions register, raising concerns regarding its operations. Sweden’s news agency TT reported that the ship was operating under a false flag as it was flying the flag of Guinea when Swedish officials boarded it on Friday within Swedish territorial waters to conduct a search and interviews.

The authorities are particularly worried about the seaworthiness of the 'Caffa,' and a criminal investigation has been initiated concerning one individual associated with the ship. While further details regarding 'Caffa' and its crew remain undisclosed, the incident highlights ongoing tensions and issues in maritime security linked to Russian vessels potentially involved in illicit transport.

Last year, Sweden announced it would tighten the inspection of foreign ships to improve control over what is referred to as Russia's shadow fleet, comprised of aging vessels allegedly used to transport oil, gas, or stolen grain from Ukraine. The average age of these ships is around 18 years, indicating they are approaching the end of their operational lifespans and may pose additional risks at sea.