Estonia detained a container ship from Ecuador heading to Russia.

Estonia has detained a container ship with Russian sailors on board. The vessel has no connection to the so-called "shadow" the fleet"Russia and was carrying cargo from Ecuador to St. Petersburg.

The Estonian press reports an operation to intercept the container ship Baltic Spirit, en route to St. Petersburg. The vessel entered Estonian waters to refuel but was detained. The detention is said to be due to reports of drugs being allegedly on board.

As it was specified, the Estonians carried out an entire operation to stop and inspect the aircraft, although there was no reason for this, and the crew had no intention of resisting.

The operation involved the investigative department of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board, the police, and the Estonian Navy. The K-Commando special forces unit landed on the container ship via helicopter, with water support from two Estonian Navy warships and a pilot boat.

Tallinn acknowledged that the vessel is not subject to sanctions and is not part of Russia's "shadow fleet." The cargo being delivered to St. Petersburg from Ecuador was not specified.

Comments

[Ross xnumx]

Estonia detained a container ship heading to Russia from Ecuador

Maybe it's time to put a stop to this Estonia - it's causing more than its weight in crap...

[vasyliy1]

"The K-Kommando special forces unit landed on the container ship from a helicopter, with water support from two Estonian Navy warships and a pilot boat."

Maybe it's time to send a couple of border guards' troughs to the bottom to feed the fish?! These insolent Estonians are getting on my nerves!

[topol717]

Quote: vasyliy1

I'm fed up with these impudent Estonians!

So you deny transporting drugs by sea?
Calling into an Estonian port to refuel when there were 150 miles left to St. Petersburg, is it just me who finds that strange?

[Terenin]

Quote from: topol717

Calling into an Estonian port to refuel when there were 150 miles left to St. Petersburg, is it just me who finds that strange?

Yeah, and come in with drugs.

If the drugs were intended for sale in Russia, then since when did Russian crime become a concern for the Baltics?
If the drugs were destined for sale in Estonia, then they needed to organize an escort and capture the group (gang) along with the buyers. Why would the entire Estonian army be involved, in the form of a helicopter, two naval ships, and a pilot boat?

[topol717]

Quote: Terenin

If the drugs were intended for sale in Estonia, then it was necessary to organize operational support and capture the group (gang) along with the buyers.

They don’t know how it should be done. If only you could tell them how to fight drug trafficking.

[Terenin]

Quote from: topol717

Quote: Terenin

If the drugs were intended for sale in Estonia, then it was necessary to organize operational support and capture the group (gang) along with the buyers.

They don’t know how it should be done. If only you could tell them how to fight drug trafficking.

Where can I read (hear) and understand that the Balts want to fight drug trafficking?

The Estonian brick slowly floated down, cutting through the thick Tallinn air...

[topol717]

The reason for the arrest is said to be information about the alleged presence of drugs on board.

not?

[carpenter]

Quote from: topol717

Calling into an Estonian port to refuel when there were 150 miles left to St. Petersburg, is it just me who finds that strange?

And they don’t fill up with water at the Tallinn roadstead, only at the pier.

[Penzyak]

So fuel is cheaper among the Finns?

[carpenter]

Quote: Penzyak

So fuel is cheaper among the Finns?

The vessel isn't Russian-flagged, and the company and shipowner aren't Russian. It can bunker wherever it wants. Besides, bunkering in Russia isn't profitable.

[NICK111]

Even if they were transporting drugs to Russia, what business would Estonia have of it?
The ship wasn't moored in the Port of Tallinn. It was peacefully moored near Naissaar Island, awaiting a bunkering vessel. So, something else was going on.

[topol717]

Quote: NICK111

Even if they were transporting drugs to Russia, what business would Estonia have of it?

Well, drug trafficking is an international problem. How are you sure the drugs were being transported to Russia? Maybe they were unloaded at anchor? And of course, calling at an Estonian port with 100 miles to go—that's pretty common, right?

[NICK111]

No, dear sir, I’m not sure, that’s why I write “even if they did transport it.”

[tralflot1832]

I hope the ship's owner doesn't have a duplicate. Then those Estonian hotshots are in deep trouble. Let them prepare their rectums to accept ammunition from World War I. Look at the screenshots of the shipowner and the "referee"'s port of call. It's England.

[topol717]

Quote: tralflot1832

Then the Estonian hot guys got into deep trouble

They weren't in trouble. There was a high probability that there were drugs on the ship, but where they were being transported is unknown. Where they were unloaded, or even whether they were unloaded, is also unknown. Usually, no one arrests anyone without a clear tip.

[ABC-schutze]

In any case, something completely different seems strange to me...

How could such a staunch "fighter" against South American drugs and their maritime trafficking, like a "Trump"-branded shill, even let such a potential "drug smuggler" out of Ecuador's territorial waters unharmed? And even allow him to reach the Baltic? After all, his carrier groups, it seems, never left those waters to refuel.

[topol717]

As far as I understand, the US ships are in the Caribbean, and this cargo is from a slightly different location. So, the information could have arrived after the ship's arrival.

[ABC-schutze]

Well, it's unlikely they only seized Venezuelan tankers in the Caribbean. And they drowned fishermen, allegedly "drug smugglers," in airstrikes... The tankers from Venezuela weren't just bound for Cuba, after all... They could have done so upon arrival... But then, it's strange that they didn't detain the tanker either... Or were they "confident" that the "transit" of the notorious "drugs" from a container ship to a tanker was a priori "impassable"?

[Willy-V]

As I understand it, they go from Ecuador through the Panama Canal and the Caribbean Sea to the Atlantic. If they want to get to the Baltic. But definitely not across three oceans, in the other direction. 😃 Well, unless they're drug dealers 😁

[topol717]

Yes, but as I understand it, it's over 1000 km from the US squadron to the Panama Canal. Although, it's likely that US warships will be stationed near the Panama Canal. But there's a fair amount of traffic there. Most likely, the stop at the Estonian port raised a lot of questions, and Estonian customs officials either received a tip-off or detected the unloading attempt.

[hector]

Quote from: topol717

So you deny transporting drugs by sea?

Somehow the Estonians aren't trumpeting about the drugs they found.

[svarog77]

Have you also seen YouTubers who claim that the entire trade in bananas from South America is carried out for the drug trade, because the banana trade itself is not profitable?

[Perfilyeva Vera]

"Maybe it's time to send a couple of border guards' buckets to the bottom to feed the fish?! I'm fed up with these insolent Estonians!"

I fully support this, apparently this is the only way they will understand that this is not the way to treat our country!

[Alex F._2]

Carry out purely sanitary measures to improve the environment

[Terenin]

Quote: Alex F._2

Carry out purely sanitary measures to improve the environment

The Balts want to be in line with the fashionable Western trend of Captain Bonnie Trump - Blackbeard "15 men on a dead man's chest!"

He chewed tobacco in silence for a while, then spat and turned to Long John:

"Tell me, Hamnpork, how long are we going to keep swerving like a camp boat? I swear by thunder, I'm sick to death of the captain!"

"Israel," said Silver, "your head is worth very little, because there was never any brain in it..."

[mitrich]

Yes, once again our diplomats and bigwigs will protest, express concern and demand immediate release.
Well, Medvedev will frown menacingly. The Talking Mustache Head will pout. Zakharova will deliver something playful and sparkling.
That's all.
Completely toothless in every way. From the rolls of graph paper with red lines around the water cooling system to these mutt bites.

[isv000]

Quote: ROSS 42

Maybe it's time to put a stop to this Estonia - it's causing more than its weight in crap...

There's no need to detain them. We must remember. And no more experiments with "republics," only territories and regions within Russia.

[Ross xnumx]

Quote: isv000

And no more experiments with "republics", only territories and regions within Russia.

We will wait until the Baltic region becomes part of Russia.

[isv000]

Quote: ROSS 42

We will wait until the Baltic region becomes part of Russia.

Kaliningrad region.

[lubesky]

As predicted—the lack of a coherent response to the Yankee takeover—the frog-like jackals followed! And as my colleague responded to my comment, the Baltic jackals have already dared...

Are we going to wait for our ships to be arrested by Eurogays right on our territory, in our ports???

[Myths]

Now the Estonians will be checking everything for a long time. How they care about the health of our Russian citizens! Why did they decide to check if we're being smuggled drugs from Ecuador?

[topol717]

Quote from Mitos

We decided to check if they were bringing us drugs from Ecuador.

The vessel entered Estonian waters to refuel.

This phrase doesn't bother you, of course? Refueling a ship in Estonia is a common occurrence. Right?

[dmi.pris1]

What if diesel fuel is cheaper there for the ship owner, right?

[Cool90]

Diesel fuel costs 122 rubles in Estonia, and 77 rubles in Russia.

[dmi.pris1]

What do you know about diesel fuel prices in Russia for foreign organizations? I gave this as one of the versions.

[Myths]

Why the vessel entered Estonia for bunkering is perplexing, and quite frankly so. And by entering another country's territorial waters, a vessel falls under its laws. But the fact that the news channels are making a big fuss about yet another, not even a tanker, being detained is perplexing.
If they were actually transporting drugs, then extradition to Russia and the punishment would be much worse.

[Lako]

Well, it's possible it entered Estonian territorial waters, but that's only according to the Estonian side. And they could plant drugs, too. They're not one to sneeze. It's a strange story: they're nowhere near St. Petersburg, and they're heading to Estonia to refuel.

[astepanov]

Quote from Mitos

Now Estonians will have to check everything for a long time.

And eventually they'll let you go, and maybe even with an apology. That's when the containers' contents go bad. Ecuador exports bananas, shrimp, cocoa, flowers, and fish to Russia, as well as dragon fruit, mango, passion fruit, and other exotic fruits. Basically, it's the neighbors who mess things up. Although, they might slip you drugs, citing Trump.

[Vasyan1971]

Quote: astepanov

And eventually they'll let you go, and maybe even with an apology. Then, when the contents of the containers have gone bad.

A lesson for all ship owners!

[james]

And no one would put a bullet in their forehead from such shame. Shame is not smoke, it won't eat out your eyes.

[topol717]

Quote: james

And no one would put a bullet in their forehead because of such shame.

Where's the shame? And why the shame? In the world of court, delays are very common, especially when they behave inappropriately.

[dmi.pris1]

I wonder what the shame is here. This news is so hyped that it will soon burst.

[james]

You don't understand? You are a lucky person.

[dmi.pris1]

Well, explain it to me, make me miserable. Someone else's ship, entered a foreign port, where it was detained. Cargo? It was already mentioned above.

[Vasyan1971]

Quote: james

And no one would put a bullet in their forehead from such shame. Shame is not smoke, it won't eat out your eyes.

And, what's characteristic, even James will limit himself to just throwing it at the fan, and won't kill himself out of resentment "for the country"...

[james]

And I am not the person responsible for policy actions and lowering the authority of the state below the baseboard.

[Vasyan1971]

Quote: james

And I am not the person responsible.

This is understandable! It is precisely these "persons" who most of all care for the honor of the State, while simultaneously throwing it on the fan.

[Idle_piston]

It's time for the Russian Foreign Ministry to inflate its "war bubbles" and express extreme concern, and even drag in some kind of international law.

[Nastia makarova]

There was no point in entering Estonian waters

[Moore]

Unfortunately, captains and shipowners still cling to pre-war thinking. This is in a world where serious talk is already underway about reviving letters of marque.

[foxes]

Denial of the rapidly changing reality will hit the "domestic" bourgeoisie very hard.

[tralflot1832]

The key point is that the vessel entered Estonian waters for bunkering. Why did the shipowner give the captain such an order? It's a reason for the hysterical to throw a tantrum.

[ser580]

It seems like no one cares about the reasons—if Russia had this kind of information about any vessel, it would inevitably be detained and thoroughly inspected. It entered Estonia—presumably because water or fuel is cheaper there (though I doubt it), but since it did enter, it falls under the country's laws. Why all the fuss? As a former AMP sailor and motorman, I don't understand.

[tralflot1832]

And Kaliningrad was on the way.

[Ross xnumx]

Quote: tralflot1832

Why did the ship owner give the captain such an order?

Apparently, the captain was Edmond Dantes, a sailor on the ship "Pharaoh" Baltic Spirit - departing to Elba Island to Estonia to deliver a letter to Marshal Bertrand. For Dantès, it was a matter of honor to fulfill the ship's late captain's request.

[cormorant]

Container ships are usually chartered, and it's definitely not the shipowner who organized the bunkering. I think the Finns called the police themselves and seized the ship. Generally, such a seizure of a vessel, no matter where, requires very strong evidence. If they don't find drugs, then they'll have to inspect the ships heading for the Finns in a mirror image. That would be a real treat.

[Atheist]

There is a reason for hysterical women to throw a tantrum

There's reason to think about how to organize maritime transport without entering the territorial waters of unfriendly states. Is this even possible? I'm not a sailor, but I think it would be problematic.

[tralflot1832]

The decision to enter Estonian waters for bunkering was made not by the captain, but by the ship owner. The captain carried out the ship owner's order.

[Atheist]

These are already details about who made the decision. The essence of the problem is that a vessel can be legally detained in foreign waters; a pretext will always be found.

[cormorant]

This isn't a Russian vessel, and a foreign shipowner or charterer has no concept of a hostile state. There are maritime laws, and everyone, from coastal states to shipowners and charterers, abides by them. Anything else is piracy, and pirates should be hanged, and not necessarily from the yardarm.

[Atheist]

This is not a Russian vessel and the foreign ship owner or charterer has no concept of an unfriendly state.

So what? Does this make things any easier for Russia, which has paid for the cargo and is waiting for it to be used in the production chain?
Russia is critically dependent on maritime transport, as its economy is geared toward exports and imports—the current domestic market is a poor imitation of what it was in the USSR. Therefore, the delays of ships transporting goods from and to Russia in the waters of unfriendly states undermines the Russian economy. Moreover, these are no longer isolated incidents, but systemic actions.

[cormorant]

I just wrote what I wrote. It's not a given that the cargo has been paid for. There are different terms of carriage. It's possible that the container will be paid for upon unloading. The fact is that the charterer has taken the vessel to a country with which Russia has sanctions issues for bunkering. Moreover, transiting is one thing, and formally entering the port and bunkering is quite another. This is either due to ignorance, which is surprising, or it's a planned provocation. The Russian crew is the icing on the cake. They probably won't find any drugs, but there will be plenty of sanctioned goods.

[isv000]

Quote: Atheist

There is a reason for hysterical women to throw a tantrum

There's reason to think about how to organize maritime transport without entering the territorial waters of unfriendly states. Is this even possible? I'm not a sailor, but I think it would be problematic.

But here's the problem. You write the ship's name in Russian, assign it to the Russian Navy's auxiliary fleet, and raise the St. Andrew's flag over it. Period. No dog would dare seize a Russian warship.

[rocket757]

They couldn't reach the destination port and fill up with fuel there... maybe they wanted to save money on something?
However, what do we have to worry about, it’s their business?

[matwey]

The operation involved the investigative department of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board, the police, and the Estonian Navy. The K-Commando special forces unit landed on the container ship via helicopter, with water support from two Estonian Navy warships and a pilot boat.

Are they crazy? They sent their entire army to capture the city, and who's going to cover the rear?

[Mouse]

The US has set an example: declare, present a drug charge, and do whatever you want...

[NW]

It seems we have found a bottom from which we can push off.

[Asper_Daffy]

Quote from N.W.

we felt it

What does this have to do with us? The ship was sailing under the flag of the Bahamas.

[NW]

What does this have to do with us?

And we are right here. The ship was heading towards us, and the contents of the containers were intended for us (1), the crew was ours (2), the Finns should have behaved more modestly (3), if you don't bend it, you can't straighten it out (4).

[al3x]

A complete blockade of the Baltic Sea will also result in nothing more than a vague grunt. I'm 146% sure of that.

[Irek]

They will check every banana until they go rotten, the mongrels.

[K-50]

Estonia detained a container ship from Ecuador heading to Russia.

Nothing will stop us from detaining at least ten Estonian ships, if there is desire and political will.
But Estonians must suffer and continue to suffer!

[Stirbjorn]

Well, first of all, Estonian ships need to refuel in Russia.

[K-50]

Quote: Stirbjorn

Well, first of all, Estonian ships need to refuel in Russia.

What for?
After all, there was already a precedent when the Estonians detained our ship under a trumped-up pretext, and we detained theirs. All that's left is to continue to expand and deepen, as the marked Judas said.

[Stirbjorn]

Quote: K-50

All that remains is to continue to expand and deepen, as the marked Judas said.

"Women didn't like Mikhail Sergeyevich because he could only begin, but couldn't deepen and finish."

[sergey4791]

This stems from the ability to chew snot, rather than act first. If Russia were to seize a Western vessel now under the pretext of combating drug trafficking, yes, there would be a serious crisis, but it would end in negotiations with the result of "You leave ours alone, we leave yours alone."

[tralflot1832]

Quote: ROSS 42

For Dantes, it is a matter of honor to carry out the order of the deceased captain of the ship.

They say the entire crew is Russian (21 people).

[ser580]

Well, yes, well, then it turns out that the captain is Georgian, the crew-Ukrainians, Moldovans, Armenians and the third mate is a Russian with an Estonian passport - but the crew are all (dear) Russians

[foxes]

All sensible people warned about such actions on the part of the limitrophes.

[Sergei Timofeich]

That's why I see that the dealers are selling bananas for up to two hundred rubles...

[isv000]

Quote: Sergei Timofeich

That's why I see that the dealers are selling bananas for up to two hundred rubles...

Ecuador is a murky business. It's high time to replace the supplier. Cuba, for example, grows a lot of things...

[musorg]

Anyone can throw shit at us! It's a shame that we can't even influence these dwarfs—NATO is behind them—and there's no one to explain it further.

[Vasyan1971]

The Estonians carried out a whole operation to stop and inspect them, although there was no reason for it, and the crew had no intention of offering resistance.

That's why they did it because no one resisted.

[Seamaster]

Soon, Estonian authorities will be detaining ships right at the berths of St. Petersburg.
Why should they be afraid?
Expressions of concern from the Kremlin?

[Mint Gingerbread]

Commando feces. Estonia, small rats.

[snow mountain]

Estonia detained a container ship from Ecuador heading to Russia.

This simply underscores our country's status. Do you think a shithole state like Estonia could have detained a Soviet ship?

[isv000]

What the hell was he doing going to the Finns for a bunkering break?! I can't believe he's even dry. They always keep extra fuel on long voyages, so he could have easily made it to Ust-Luga. There's a reason for that!

[Serik Bur]

The truth is spoken through your lips - this is the main question, but the answer, perhaps, will emerge someday, although...

[hector]

Quote: isv000

Well this is not casual!

Smuggling of Belarusian cigarettes in transit through the Minsk Sea.

[isv000]

Quote: ettore

Smuggling of Belarusian cigarettes in transit through the Minsk Sea.

You'll laugh, but in 2025, Belarus became the largest supplier of seafood to Russia...

[tralflot1832]

Quote from: topol717

No one is arrested without a clear tip.

Let's not jump to conclusions. The container ship entered the Estonian port of Terrestrial Waters for bunkering.

[Alex013]

"The cargo being delivered to St. Petersburg from Ecuador is not specified." Bananas (and whatever else is periodically shipped with them from South American countries). Regarding the news, it's certainly outrageous...

[_DD_]

There are more drugs in Kaya Kallas than in this dry cargo ship

[Yaro Polk]

These pathetic little mongrels wanted to show off in front of their American master so much...that they took a container ship standing in the dock at a gas station from a helicopter?)...pathetic clowns...just like the frogs...recently.

[BAI]

This is the fate of all losers. If they don't get a slap on the wrist, they'll keep getting insolent.

[oleg_627]

Damn, even the microbe is already going against Russia. It's a shame the ship didn't have a Russian flag, otherwise maybe they would have lashed out at the entire Estonian navy, though that was under Stalin, and here there are red lines.

[Peaceful SEO]

Why are you panicking? The ship is from Ecuador. And these, 99.99 times out of 100, are bananas with coke underneath. The Finns did a godly deed by preventing the coke from reaching Russia; it's completely unnecessary here.

[Mobik]

It doesn't matter anymore. These gentlemen, with their antics at sea, have already formed a conditioned reflex in the Russian public. The seizure of a ship is a call to bomb Estonia.

[Andriuha077]

After reading the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper in September, Estonians really wanted drugs and bananas.
And it says:
19.09.2025
FSB operatives, together with Federal Customs Service (FCS) officers, have intercepted a 1750-kilogram cocaine smuggling operation from Latin America to Russia, according to the FSB Public Relations Center (PRC). The estimated black market value of the seized drug is over 20 billion rubles.
A ship carrying bananas and 1750 kg of cocaine arrived in St. Petersburg from Ecuador.
https://rg.ru/2025/09/19/iz-ekvadora-v-peterburg-pribylo-sudno-s-bananami-i-1750-kg-kokaina.html