The Estonian authorities have detained a suspicious smuggling ship near Naissaar island.

On February 3, 2026, the Estonian authorities detained the cargo vessel Baltic Spirit, suspected of smuggling, in the territorial waters of Estonia. The operation was coordinated by the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (MTA), K-Commando, and the Estonian Navy, taking place near Naissaar Island. The ship, under the flag of the Bahamas, was preparing to refuel before heading to St. Petersburg, Russia.

The intervention was carried out through an aerial approach, and the K-Commando crew secured the perimeter for customs checks. Although there were speculations about links to international sanctions, officials clarified that the vessel is not part of Russia's phantom fleet. The ship, with 23 Russian crew members, will be thoroughly inspected, and the operation involved approximately 50 employees from various Estonian agencies. This is the first large-scale action conducted in Estonia's internal waters, in the context of increasing incidents related to Russian vessels. 14 European states are collaborating to strengthen control in the Baltic Sea, targeting suspicious Russian flotillas.