France yesterday released a tanker suspected of being part of Russia’s sanctions-busting “shadow fleet” called “Grinch” after its owner paid a fine of several million euros, a minister said.

French forces and their allies boarded the oil tanker last month between Spain and Morocco after it started its journey in Russia, before escorting it to a port outside the southern city of Marseille.

Ship tracking websites marinetraffic and vesselfinder said the vessel had been flying a Comoros flag. “The tanker ‘Grinch’ is leaving French waters after paying several million euros and enduring a costly three-week immobilisation in Fos-sur-Mer,” Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X.