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Estonia Releases Detained Cargo Ship After Contraband Claim Falls Short

Officials said the Bahamas-flagged Baltic Spirit was halted for a customs check on its Ecuador–St. Petersburg route and was not linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.

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Overview

  • Estonia completed an overnight customs inspection on Feb. 5, found no evidence of contraband, and cleared the Baltic Spirit to depart Muuga port, ERR reported.
  • Tax and Customs investigators, police special forces, and the Estonian Navy detained the ship in internal waters near Naissaar and brought it to port for a thorough check.
  • The 23-member crew, reported to be Russian citizens, cooperated with authorities and did not resist, according to police.
  • The Estonian Navy said the container vessel is not under European Union sanctions and is not part of a shadow fleet.
  • Russian State Duma figures criticized the detention as provocative, reflecting tensions that have followed earlier Estonia–Russia tanker stops in 2025.