French court to try Chinese captain from Russia’s shadow fleet tanker

French police have arrested the captain and first officer of a sanctioned tanker suspected of operating for Russia’s “shadow fleet”, authorities said on Thursday, after the navy boarded the vessel, which may have been involved in recent drone incidents around Denmark.

The vessel, the Boracay, was around 50 nautical miles (90km) south of Copenhagen on September 22, when drone activity forced the closure of the city’s airport, according to data from MarineTraffic.

It was also observed heading south along Denmark’s western coast on the evening of September 24, when drones were reported flying north of Esbjerg and near several nearby airports.

“Thanks to our Navy commandos and to the crews of the French navy who intervened this weekend on board a Russian shadow fleet tanker, currently anchored off Saint-Nazaire,” Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu wrote on social media. “Their action contributed to the arrest of two members of its crew.”

Brest Prosecutor Stephane Kellenberger, whose office is handling the investigation into the Boracay, said in a statement that the two people in custody had identified themselves as the ship’s captain and its first officer.