The French navy intercepted the oil tanker Deliver, a vessel illegally flying the Cameroonian flag, due to sanctions imposed by Yaoundé.

Following the Tagor and Smyrtos vessels, which were intercepted in early June in the English Channel while flying the Cameroonian flag illegally, the French navy on Tuesday, June 23, intercepted the Deliver tanker, which was flying a fake Cameroonian flag. “Document inspection confirmed doubts about the legitimacy” of the Cameroonian flag displayed.

Flying the Cameroonian flag, the vessel had been sanctioned by Yaoundé following the incidents involving Tagor and Smyrtos. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the tanker likely belongs to the Russian shadow fleet.

Emmanuel Macron wrote: “The French navy intercepted the Deliver tanker on Tuesday as it was transiting off the coast of Sicily in violation of the law of the sea. This new action against the shadow fleet, coming a few days after a similar operation by the United Kingdom, demonstrates the determination of Europeans.”

He added: “We will not allow the shadow fleet to evade sanctions and finance Russia’s war effort.” In recent weeks, Cameroon’s transport ministry has sanctioned and deregistered 39 ships from its registry.

For Yaoundé, these measures are intended to facilitate physical inspection and digitalization operations to improve control over the registered fleet and protect the Cameroonian label.