French authorities have released the oil tanker Grinch after it paid a multimillion-euro penalty for violating sanctions by transporting Russian oil. The vessel was intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea last month and detained for three weeks at the port of Fos-sur-Mer while authorities investigated its failure to fly a valid flag.

The Grinch was part of Russia's shadow fleet of over 400 aging vessels used to evade international sanctions. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced the penalty on social media, stating that circumventing European sanctions comes at a price. The vessel's Indian crew remained on board during the investigation, and the ship's owner accepted a guilty plea arrangement resulting in the financial penalty.

This incident highlights France's growing crackdown on vessels transporting Russian oil in violation of sanctions. The Grinch follows another Russian-linked tanker intercepted by French forces off the Atlantic coast in September, whose captain faces trial next week for allegedly refusing to cooperate with authorities. The Grinch's release demonstrates France's strategy of imposing significant financial penalties while avoiding prolonged detentions.