A criminal court in Brest, France, has sentenced the 39-year-old Chinese captain of the Russian tanker Boracay to one year in prison. Chen Zhangjie, who was tried in absentia on Monday, was additionally fined €150,000, and an international arrest warrant has been issued against him. The ruling aligns with the prosecution's recommendations made during a hearing on February 23.
The charges stem from an incident on September 27, 2025, when the French Navy attempted to inspect the 244-meter vessel in international waters near the island of Ushant. According to Deputy Prosecutor Gabriel Rollen, French military personnel "faced particular hostility from the captain," which forced them to execute a "dangerous maneuver that could have led to an accident."
Operating under European sanctions as part of Russia's "shadow fleet," the tanker was transporting Russian oil to India. Prior to the French boarding, the ship, which initially displayed no visible flag, hoisted a fake flag of Benin. Notably, authorities discovered two operatives from a Russian private security company on board, whose primary tasks were to monitor the crew and gather intelligence.
During the trial, defense attorney Henri de Richemont pushed for an acquittal. He argued that under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the events occurred in international waters, meaning Chen Zhangjie should be subject to the jurisdiction of a Chinese court rather than a French one.
The vessel, which has since been renamed Phoenix and now officially sails under the Russian flag, was already under intense scrutiny. Following the boarding last year off the western coast of France, media outlets speculated about a potential connection between the tanker and a series of incidents involving unidentified drones. While French President Emmanuel Macron previously stated that the Boracay was suspected of "serious offenses," he declined to comment on any alleged involvement with drone operations.
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