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By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies | December 21, 2025
HÖGANÄS, Sweden — Swedish customs and security forces conducted a dramatic overnight boarding of a sanctioned Russian freighter, the Adler, after the vessel experienced engine failure and anchored in Swedish territorial waters. The operation, which began shortly after 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, marks an escalation in European efforts to police “shadow fleet” vessels suspected of transporting illegal arms and ammunition.
The 126-meter roll-on/roll-off container carrier is owned by the Russian company M Leasing LLC, a firm currently under both U.S. and EU sanctions. Intelligence reports suggest that vessels linked to the company have previously been used to transport North Korean ammunition destined for Russian frontlines in Ukraine.
⚡️⚡️⚡️BREAKING: Sweden has boarded & inspected the sanctioned Russian container ship Adler in its territorial waters after engine failure. The vessel, owned by EU/US-sanctioned M Leasing LLC, is accused of links to transporting North Korean ammo used in Russia's war on Ukraine.… pic.twitter.com/yKJXDjKRvE
— Kyrylo Shevchenko (@KShevchenkoReal) December 21, 2025
A High-Stakes Inspection
The Adler was transiting north through the Øresund Strait—the narrow waterway between Denmark and Sweden when it reported technical issues early Saturday. After issuing a distress call, the ship dropped anchor off the coast of Nyhamnsläge, north of Höganäs.
The boarding was not a standard maritime assistance mission. Led by the Swedish Customs Administration, the operation involved a coalition of elite units, including:
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The National Task Force (Nationella insatsstyrkan): Sweden’s premier police tactical unit.
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The Swedish Coast Guard: Providing maritime support and containment.
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SÄPO (Swedish Security Service): Investigating potential hybrid threats.
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Public Prosecutors: Overseeing the legal grounds for the cargo search.
Monitoring “Hybrid Activity”
According to SVT security correspondent John Granlund, the raid is part of a broader, increasingly vigilant pattern of inspections targeting Russian hybrid activity in the Baltic Sea. Authorities have grown wary of civilian vessels acting as conduits for military hardware or electronic surveillance equipment.
“This inspection is one in a series of similar checks carried out against suspected Russian arms trafficking in EU waters during the year,” Granlund noted.
| Vessel Name | Owner | Sanction Status | Suspected Activity |
| Adler | M Leasing LLC | US & EU Sanctioned | Weapons transport; North Korean ammo supply chain. |
| Angara | M Leasing LLC | US & EU Sanctioned | Previously identified in North Korean arms transfers. |
Government Response
Sweden’s Minister for Civil Defence, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, confirmed that the inspection was carried out in cooperation with the ship’s crew, who reportedly behaved politely throughout the process. “The government has remained in close contact with the relevant authorities,” Bohlin stated, emphasizing that the integrity of Swedish waters remains a top priority.
As of Sunday evening, the Adler remains anchored off the southwest coast of Sweden while investigators continue to inventory its cargo.11 Customs officials have not yet disclosed whether any contraband or military equipment was discovered during the initial sweep.
This video explains the broader strategic context and security concerns Swedish authorities have regarding the Russian “shadow fleet” operating in the Baltic Sea: