Importer, shipowner and crew members investigated for violating sanctions against Russia

The Italian Guardia di Finanza (Financial Police)have detained a cargo ship in the port of Brindisi on suspicion of violating European Union sanctions targeting Russia, according to ANSA By the Brindisi Public Prosecutor's Office, the bulker Hizir Reis, sailing under the flag of a small Pacific island nation—reportedly Tuvalu arriving from Russian territorial waters in the Black Sea, with a cargo of 33,000 tons of ferrous metal, was placed under emergency precautionary seizure. The Italian Financial Police launched an inspection upon arrival, prompted by irregularities detected in the ship’s import declaration

EU Regulation 833/2014

The precautionary measure was issued pursuant to EU Regulation 833/2014, in compliance with the measures adopted as part of the so-called package of sanctions against the Russian Federation following the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The EU Regulation and subsequent amendments provide for a ban on commercial operations in certain locations, including certain ports of the Federation, and on the import of certain categories of goods, as well as the application of sanctions against a series of so-called "listed" natural and legal persons.

Analysis of onboard documentation and navigational data

Analysis of onboard documentation and navigational data—specifically from the ship’s Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS)—revealed  The inspection carried out by the Guardia di Finanza on a series of the ship's documents, as well as the analysis of data extracted from the ECDI system (the mandatory electronic navigation system on large ships), allowed them to ascertain that the ship was stationed and operating in the Port of Novorossiysk (a sanctioned port of the Russian Federation) from 13 to 16 November 2025, carrying out prohibited cargo loading operations.

 Deactivation of the vessel's AIS system

Authorities also discovered by the finance police of the Naval Operations Section of Brindisi and analyses conducted by the ROAN of Bari, it emerged that the vessel's AIS system (the GPS transponder that allows ships to identify themselves and provide their position, course, and speed in real time) had been deactivated near the Russian port of Novorossiysk, presumably with the intent of evading geolocation and hindering the control activities of the competent authorities.

Related : Turkish car ferry damaged in strike at Ukrainian port

 EU Regulation on sanctions against the Russian Federation

All the investigations conducted allowed the vessel's route and operations to be precisely reconstructed, in violation of the EU Regulation on sanctions against the Russian Federation, despite the misleading statements made by the vessel's captain and the attempts to obstruct the proceedings by altering documents and turning off the transponder.

The seizure was authorized

The seizure was authorized by an investigating magistrate in Brindisi and upheld, the vessel and its entire cargo were seized the Court of Review. The importer, the shipowner (which appears to be the Turkish company Buymar Shipping & Trading), and several crew members are being investigated jointly for circumventing European Union restrictive measures, without prejudice to the presumption of innocence and pending full determination of liability.under investigation for attempting to circumvent EU restrictive measures introduced in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Related : Ukraine claims responsibility for attack targeting two Russian oil tankers off the coast of Türkiy

Source : Italy Media

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