Swedish authorities have released a Russian cargo vessel that had been detained off the country’s south-western coast after issuing a distress signal, despite the ship’s owners being under international sanctions. The Times reports, citing Swedish public broadcaster SVT and Aftonbladet

Prosecutors in Sweden confirmed on Monday that they would not open a criminal investigation into the Russian-flagged container ship Adler, clearing the way for it to leave Swedish waters. The decision followed an inspection by customs officers and the coastguard after the vessel reported engine failure while transiting the Øresund strait.

The 126-metre cargo ship had departed from Saint Petersburg on 15 December and was passing through the Øresund when it sent a mayday call, according to Swedish media. On 20 December, the vessel dropped anchor near the Kulla Peninsula in south-west Sweden. During the night of 20–21 December, Swedish authorities detained the ship for checks.

Officials from the Swedish Customs Service boarded the Adler with assistance from the coastguard and other law-enforcement agencies. The inspection continued into the following day. However, prosecutors later concluded that there were no sufficient grounds to suspect a breach of sanctions legislation.

Speaking after the decision, Martin Höglund, a spokesperson for Swedish Customs, said prosecutors had chosen not to pursue an investigation related to sanctions violations. As a result, the vessel was permitted to resume its journey.

The Adler is owned by M Leasing LLC, a Russian company that appears on sanctions lists in both the United States and the European Union. According to previous Western allegations, ships linked to the company have been suspected of transporting North Korean ammunition later used by Russia in its war against Ukraine. No such allegations were formally confirmed in relation to the Adler during the Swedish inspection.

Despite the sensitive background of the ship’s ownership, Swedish authorities stressed that the detention was linked to the distress call and navigational safety, rather than an automatic sanctions seizure. Late on 21 December, vessel-tracking data showed the Adler beginning to move north-west under escort by a ship from the Swedish Coast Guard.

Data from MarineTraffic indicated that the vessel departed Swedish waters under supervision, suggesting the authorities wanted to ensure safe passage after the reported engine failure.

Swedish officials declined to disclose details about the cargo on board, stating that such information is considered confidential under national regulations. The lack of transparency has nevertheless drawn public attention, given the vessel’s links to a sanctioned company and heightened scrutiny of maritime traffic in the Baltic and Øresund regions since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

For Sweden, the incident underscores the balancing act between enforcing international sanctions, ensuring maritime safety, and adhering to strict legal thresholds required to detain or seize foreign vessels in its territorial waters.

Read about the life of Westminster and Pimlico district, London and the world. 24/7 news with fresh and useful updates on culture, business, technology and city life: Sweden stops sanctioned Russian cargo ship as security checks intensify