Finnish Special Forces Used Three Helicopters to Detain FITBURG Vessel

Finland used three helicopters to detain the FITBURG vessel, which is suspected of damaging an underwater cable.

The Finnish Border Guard’s Special Intervention Unit (SIU) was deployed from a helicopter to intercept the vessel.

The operation involved Super Puma helicopters operated by the Finnish Border Guard, as well as NH90 helicopters of the Finnish Defence Forces.

The vessel was detained on New Year’s Eve, December 31. According to Finnish Customs, the FITBURG was carrying steel products subject to international sanctions.

Operational security was provided by the Finnish Border Guard patrol vessels Turva and Uisko, as well as a coastal patrol boat.

Police took 14 crew members into custody, including citizens of Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

Finnish police have requested the arrest of one crew member of the cargo ship Fitburg. Another detainee was placed under a travel ban on January 3.

Police are seeking the arrest of an Azerbaijani citizen. A travel ban was imposed on a Russian citizen.

Previously, two additional crew members were also placed under travel bans.

As a result, three of the 14 crew members are currently subject to travel restrictions.

According to MarineTraffic, a vessel-tracking service, the Fitburg was en route from St. Petersburg to Haifa, Israel.

After reports emerged of damage to a submarine cable, Finnish law enforcement intercepted the suspect vessel, directed it into Finnish territorial waters, and escorted it to the port of Kantvik, where it remains.