Swedish authorities have detained the captain of the Sea Owl One, a vessel believed to be part of Russia's shadow fleet, on suspicion of document forgery.

The detention occurred after Swedish coast guard officials boarded the tanker and discovered what they suspect to be forged documents presented by the ship's skipper during the inspection.

The Sea Owl One is considered part of Russia's shadow fleet - a collection of tankers used to transport oil while evading international sanctions imposed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. These vessels often operate with unclear ownership structures and documentation to circumvent restrictions on Russian energy exports.

Swedish maritime authorities have increased scrutiny of suspicious vessels transiting through their waters as part of broader European efforts to enforce sanctions against Russian oil trade. The detention represents the latest enforcement action against ships suspected of facilitating sanction evasion.

The investigation into the suspected document forgery remains ongoing, with Swedish authorities yet to announce any formal charges or timeline for the captain's release.