Dramatic social media footage of Belgian special forces boarding an oil tanker suspected of being linked to Russia in early March highlighted a dramatic shift in Western attitudes toward the global shadow fleet, CBC analysis shows.
An analysis by CBC Vision’s investigative team using maritime traffic data, expert input, news reports and press releases found that since December 2025, at least 14 shadow fleet vessels – ships sailing under false flags to circumvent sanctions – have been seized, detained or boarded by U.S., Indian and EU authorities.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had 14 cases in a year, let alone 14 cases in three months,” said David Tannenbaum, director of compliance services at Blackstone, which provides sanctions compliance advice.
“These ships are not safe. They carry cargo that finances wars of aggression, terrorism or nuclear proliferation,” he said. “Those behind these networks … are responsible for serious human rights violations.”
Most seizures related to Caribbean blockade
Most of the new seizures are related to the U.S. Caribbean blockade that began before the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in early January. The United States has seized at least seven oil tankers during the blockade.
Isaac Levy, head of the Europe-Russia policy and energy analysis group at the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), said Europe began increasing its efforts to seize ships in the shadow fleet, “inspired by the U.S. seizure of these Venezuelan flagless oil tankers.”
Seizing ships at the current rate is “completely a new phenomenon” in Europe, he said.
Indian authorities also seized three suspected Iranian tankers during the same period, and more recently, European authorities intercepted three suspected Russian tankers.
Approximate interception points for Shadow Fleet ships seized by U.S., Indian and European authorities since February 1. (Froi Untalasco/CBC)
Shadow Fleet is still active
have more than a thousand ships in the Shadow Fleet, according to TankerTrackers, a maritime intelligence service that tracks crude oil shipments. Experts say Russia has the largest contingent mainly using its flag as a country not subject to sanctions to undermine international oil price cap rules.
last year, CBC Vision Investigation Team found How the Shadow Fleet moved Russian oil from India into Canadian ports.
Blackstone’s Tannenbaum said the recent seizures showed that more aggressive enforcement action was “long overdue.”
“The seizures add a whole new dynamic, encouraging people to conduct better due diligence on the transactions they are undertaking,” he said.
Increased enforcement has led to changes in the Shadow Fleet itself. According to data from the International Institute for Strategic StudiesRussia, a UK-based think tank, responded by re-registering the ship with official Russian registration and using military escort.
Despite the increased pressure, the Shadow Fleet remains active.
According to shipping industry trade publications Lloyd’s listAbout half of all oil tankers and gas carriers over 10,000 dwt that passed through the Strait of Hormuz between March 1 and 8 were part of the shadow fleet. The strait is a key chokepoint for global oil shipments controlled by Iran.
Swedish authorities seized the CAFFA in the Baltic Sea on March 6 because they said it was sailing under a false flag. (Swedish Coast Guard)
US grants exemption to Russian oil
This week, U.S. President Donald Trump issued 30 day license Countries are buying Russian oil currently stuck at sea to ease pressure on oil prices caused by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized the move to ease sanctions, saying on Friday that doing so could provide Russia with billions of dollars in revenue that could help fund its wars.
The concept of temporary exemptions also came up in discussions among G7 leaders this week, and on Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada would maintain sanctions on Russia “including on its shadow fleet transporting oil.”
“I don’t think it will have any impact on oil prices at all,” Tannerbaum said of the exemption. “Much of the Dark Fleet has been unloaded in India.”