German authorities confirmed that Special Forces boarded the Estonian-operated cargo ship Scanlark in the Kiel Canal on September 7, uncovering equipment highly unusual for a commercial vessel, including advanced radar systems.
The discovery has fueled suspicions that the ship was being used for espionage purposes rather than routine cargo transport.
According to investigators, the vessel’s Russian crew is being questioned in connection with an incident on August 26, when a drone was allegedly launched from the ship to monitor German naval infrastructure.
While no arrests have been reported so far, the probe is ongoing and could have serious diplomatic repercussions given the sensitive nature of the surveillance claims.