US Coast Guard intercepts M/V Grace carrying illicit fuel to Cuba

The United States Coast Guard, in coordination with Mexican authorities, has intercepted the merchant vessel M/V Grace in the Caribbean Sea for the illicit trafficking of fuel destined for Cuba.

During a boarding operation in early September, the vessel was identified as employing tactics common to the ‘dark fleet,’ a term used for ships that use deceptive practices to avoid tracking operations and cargo. Following the interception, the Coast Guard escorted the M/V Grace to the port of Progreso, Mexico.

A Mexican Navy inspection team confirmed that the vessel was carrying large quantities of fuel stored in its ballast tanks, as well as several containers believed to hold additional illicit fuel. Officials noted that the unsafe stowage of fuel in ballast tanks poses significant hazards to the marine environment and increases the risk of oil spills in the Caribbean Sea.