On Tuesday evening, February 3, 2026, Estonia’s Tax and Customs Board (MTA), in cooperation with a police special unit (K-Commando) and the Estonian Navy, detained the refrigerated container ship Baltic Spirit in Estonian internal waters near Naissaar Island.
The vessel, sailing under the Bahamian flag with a crew of 23 Russian nationals, was en route from Ecuador (with a stop in Colombia) to St. Petersburg, Russia. It had entered Estonian waters for bunkering (refueling).
Authorities stated there are grounds to believe the ship may have been used for smuggling. The operation involved boarding by special forces, with no resistance from the crew. The Baltic Spirit is a reefer (refrigerated) vessel, a type often associated with smuggling risks, particularly narcotics like cocaine from South American origins, due to challenges in inspecting temperature-controlled cargo without compromising goods.
Officials emphasized that the ship is not part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” and is not subject to EU sanctions. The vessel was subsequently moved to the Port of Muuga near Tallinn for a more detailed customs inspection, including searches of containers and other areas on board.
Estonian sources have not publicly specified the suspected smuggled goods (e.g., confirming drugs), noting that the ongoing investigation will determine details. No official accusations have been made against Russia or the crew beyond the general suspicion of smuggling linked to the Ecuador-origin route.