Baltic-Spirit

On Feb 5 the Estonian authorities have allowed the 'Baltic Spirit', detained on suspicion of transporting drugs, to continue its journey to Russia. A few days ago, the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (ETCB) received information from international partners about the possible presence of a suspicious container with narcotic substances on board the ship, which was sailing from Ecuador to St. Petersburg, Russia, and its last port of call was Puerto Bolívar. Estonian border guards and police, together with their partners, detained the 'Baltic Spirit' and sent it to the port of Muuga for inspection. During the inspection, suspicious containers were removed from the ship and customs control of the cargo was carried out. The inspection did not reveal any prohibited or suspicious items. The information received from international partners could not be confirmed by the anti-drug service of the investigative department of the PMD. After the inspections were completed, the vessel was allowed to leave the port of Muuga and continue its voyage.

In a coordinated operation, Estonian authorities seized the 'Baltic Spirit' in their territorial waters on Feb 3, 2026, being strongly suspected of being involved in smuggling activities towards Russia. The seizure took place at approximately 5:10 p.m. near Naissaar Island off the northern coast of Estonia. The ship was en route from Cristobal to the Russian port St. Petersburg. Officials from the Ministry of Taxation and Customs (MTA), the Navy, and the K-Commando special police unit participated in the operation. The elite police officers rappelled from a helicopter onto the ship's deck to take control of the ship. The 23 crew members, all of Russian nationality, did not resist the seizure. An estimated 50 people from various agencies participated in the operation at sea and in the air. In addition to the helicopter, the naval vessels ÄRaju' and 'Admiral Cowan', as well as a pilot boat, were deployed. The vessel had previously entered Estonian waters for bunkering operations. At the time of the inspection, it was moored at an official anchorage between Tallinn and Naissaar. According to the Ministry of Taxation and Customs (MTA), the investigation was focused solely on the suspicion of smuggling. Whether this specifically involved the transport of narcotics was to be determined in the ongoing investigation. The 'Baltic Spirit' had to remain at anchor until being escorted to Muuga for a detailed inspection. Because the ship was carrying a large number of containers, the complete search was expected to take considerable time. The ship was released again on Feb 5 and left the port short past midnight. Report with video: https://news.err.ee/1609932407/watch-estonia-s-special-forces-detain-a-suspected-smugglers-ship