French navy seizes oil tanker 'DF Peak' near Réunion amid 'shadow fleet' suspicions
Macron said the DF Peak was boarded on suspicion of sailing under a false flag and was escorted to Réunion for a judicial investigation.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on the social platform X that the French navy has seized an oil tanker south of Réunion in the Indian Ocean amid suspicions it is linked to a Russian "shadow fleet."
"The French navy boarded the oil tanker 'DF Peak', which is suspected of sailing under a false flag and being involved in activities for the illegal transport of fuel," Macron wrote. He said the vessel was intercepted and its course altered for further action.
Boarding and judicial handling
According to officials, the DF Peak was sailing under the flag of Benin and had crew on board when French naval vessels carried out the boarding operation. The ship was redirected and escorted to an anchorage near the coast of Réunion to allow a judicial investigation to proceed.
French authorities flagged concerns that the tanker may be part of what is described as a Russian "shadow fleet" — a loose network of vessels allegedly used to disguise ownership and carry out dubious fuel shipments. The navy's intervention follows growing scrutiny of maritime fuel transfers believed to bypass sanctions and regulations.
Macron added a broader message on enforcement: "France is 'determined to fight all forms of illegal trade, wherever they occur'," stressing the country's commitment to counter smuggling and illicit commerce at sea.
The operation unfolded in international waters south of Réunion in the Indian Ocean and is now the subject of a formal judicial inquiry led by French authorities.
Photo: press material from the event
