Large Shipment of Metal of Russian Origin Seized in Italy

Italian authorities have seized a metal-carrying ship due to possible ties with Russia. The vessel, flying the flag of the small island nation of Tuvalu, was detained by security forces immediately after it docked at the port of Brindisi, Italy. The freighter was transporting 33,000 tons of iron briquettes.

This cargo served as the basis for the seizure, as Italian authorities suspect that the documents are forged and that the shipment actually originated from Russia, circumventing European sanctions. According to the Italian financial guard, the vessel had been in Novorossiysk from November 13 to 16, 2025. However, before entering the Russian port, the crew reportedly disabled the GPS system and transponder to hide its real location.

Four suspects are involved in the case, including the importer, the ship's owner, and two crew members. Italian prosecutors have ordered the seizure of the cargo.

Earlier, U.S. forces had seized the Marinera tankers in the Atlantic. U.S. authorities announced that the ship was flying a false Russian flag and was part of Venezuela's 'shadow fleet,' which was transporting oil in defiance of sanctions.