Sweden to transfer seized cargo ship Caffa to Ukraine after grain smuggling case

A Swedish court has ruled that the detained cargo vessel Caffa will be transferred to Ukrainian law enforcement authorities, according to Sveriges Radio.

The District Court of Ystad has formally upheld the seizure and confiscation of the vessel, clearing the way for its handover to Ukraine. The judge noted that the case is exceptional and highly unusual in Swedish legal practice.

On June 4, Sweden detained the Caffa, marking the first time a foreign court approved the seizure of a vessel at the request of Ukrainian prosecutors as part of international legal assistance. The ship is suspected of being involved in the illegal export of Ukrainian agricultural products from temporarily occupied territories.

The vessel was repeatedly found to have violated regulations governing entry to and exit from occupied areas of Ukraine. Authorities allege that a falsified registration scheme was used to conceal its activities, with the ship listed in international databases under the name “Guinea False”.

According to Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Directorate, the Caffa may have been involved in transporting grain from occupied territories. In July 2025, the vessel reportedly called at the port of Sevastopol before delivering cargo to Syria’s Tartus port.

Tags: Ukraine, Russia, sanctions, Sweden, grain stolen