Investigation Launched into Oil Tanker Linked to Drone Activity in Denmark

The French authorities have initiated an investigation into the oil tanker Boracay, which is registered under the flag of Benin, according to prosecutors in Brest, located in western France. This probe was triggered by a report from the French Navy.

Currently, the vessel is reported to be anchored off the coast of Saint-Nazaire, a French port city. It is suspected of being part of what is referred to as the Russian 'shadow fleet'--a group of aging oil tankers that Russia utilizes to circumvent Western sanctions. The Boracay departed from Primorsk, Russia, on September 20, with Vadinar in India listed as its official destination.

According to The Maritime Executive, the Boracay is connected to recent drone flights over Denmark that have led to the shutdown of several airports. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has declared that the country is experiencing a form of hybrid warfare.

There are indications that the oil tanker, along with other vessels, may have been used either as a launch platform for the drones or as decoys, as reported by The Maritime Executive.

The investigation is based on the crew's inability to justify the ship's nationality and their refusal to cooperate with authorities, as stated by Brest prosecutor Stephane Kellenberger in a report to AFP.