The police arrested two individuals of the cargo vessel Fitburg and imposed travel ban on two other persons over the suspected damage of telecommunications cable in the Gulf of Finland on Wednesday, said police on Thursday.
Police, however, did not divulge the further details regarding their nationalities or their ranks at the preliminary stage of the investigation.
Meanwhile, the police continued the investigation into the incident in cooperation with other authorities.
The cargo vessel Fitburg, suspected of being involved in the cable damage incident, was escorted by authorities to Kantvik harbour on Wednesday evening.
Earlier on Wednesday, the police received a prosecution order from the Prosecutor General and the responsibility for the criminal investigation has been transferred to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
At the preliminary stage, the incident is being investigated on suspicion of aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications.
“Investigative actions have been carried out on the vessel, including the collection of material, and analysis has begun. The examination of the anchor on the ship has also started, and any potential damages are being investigated. Crew member questioning was initiated immediately on Wednesday evening,” said the Tactical Leader, Senior Detective Inspector Risto Lohi of the NBI, adding that the formal interviews began on Thursday.
The police continue to take necessary investigative measures on board the vessel. The investigative actions on the vessel have proceeded smoothly in close cooperation with the crew on board.
The authorities have also initiated a subsea crime scene investigation in the area surrounding the damaged cable.
The Border Guard and the Defence Forces are providing support to the police investigation.
The Port State Control inspection of the vessel, initiated by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom on Wednesday continued on Thursday.
The inspection will ensure that the vessel meets the requirements of the relevant international conventions.
“The vessel's inspection is being carried out in accordance with the requirements of the police investigation, and the inspection has progressed in good cooperation with the crew. We are satisfied with the progress of the inspection,” said Sanna Sonninen, Director of Maritime Affairs of Traficom.
Meanwhile, Finnish Customs decided to carry out a ship inspection of the vessel upon its arrival at the port as Fitburg and its crew had failed to submit the legally required notifications to authorities concerning the vessel and its cargo, said Customs in a press release on Thursday.
Preliminary information indicated that the cargo consisted of steel products originating in Russia, which are subject to extensive sanctions imposed on Russia.
Consequently, Customs decided to detain the goods carried as cargo prior to the ship inspection, in order to verify compliance with EU import requirements.
Finnish authorities detained the freighter Fitburg on suspicion of damaging undersea data cables in the Gulf of Finland early Wednesday.