France releases tanker Grinch after owner pays multi-million euro penalty

France has released the tanker Grinch after its owner paid a fine of several million euros, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced. The vessel, which had sailed from Murmansk, was intercepted by the French Navy in the Mediterranean on 22 January and diverted to Marseille. French authorities said it was flying a false Comoros flag, and the owner was penalised for failing to justify the ship's flag status, Euronews reports. The ship was held for about three weeks. Its Indian captain was handed to judicial authorities and faces trial over the crew's alleged refusal to cooperate. Barrot said evading European sanctions "comes at a price".

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