Benin Raises the Alarm: 33 Vessels Illegally Sailing Under Its Flag

Maritime Security Update

Overview

The Republic of Benin has uncovered a sophisticated maritime fraud network exploiting its national flag to conceal the identity of vessels linked to illicit global trade operations – particularly those associated with the so-called “dark fleet” used to evade international sanctions.

In a formal communication dated 31 October 2025, addressed to the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Benin provided a detailed list of 33 ships fraudulently operating under its flag in international waters.

The revelation underscores a major breach of sovereignty and exposes Benin to potential legal, financial, and environmental liabilities in one of the world’s most strategic maritime corridors – the Gulf of Guinea.

Nature of the Fraud Scheme

Benin’s investigation reveals an organized and systemic falsification network that includes:

• No vessel registered under the Beninese flag in official maritime databases.
• Forged documentation, including falsified registration papers and counterfeit seals.
• Fabricated identities of senior Beninese maritime officials.
• Cloned vessel certificates circulated across international registries.

This scheme aligns with the operational profile of the global “dark fleet” — a constellation of over 600 ships identified in international intelligence reporting as operating under rotating or fraudulent flags, often used to:

• evade Western sanctions,
• obscure cargo origin or ownership,
• bypass insurance requirements, and
• avoid regulatory inspections in international ports.

Strategic Context – The “Dark Fleet” and Russian Maritime Operations

Since 2022, Russia has expanded the use of this covert maritime network to continue oil exports under sanctions, employing tactics such as:

• frequent re-flagging,
• transshipment in high seas, and
• AIS (Automatic Identification System) signal manipulation.

The fraudulent use of African flags — particularly those of small coastal nations like Benin, Togo, and Gabon — provides a low-visibility legal cover, exploiting administrative weaknesses in regional maritime oversight.

This practice exposes these states to serious reputational and legal risks:

• If a vessel under a forged Beninese flag causes an environmental disaster (e.g., oil spill, collision, or illegal dumping), Benin could be held internationally accountable.
• Such exposure undermines Benin’s international standing and its compliance status under IMO conventions.

Case Indicators and Known Vessels

Among the 33 vessels identified, several have already drawn international attention for suspicious activities in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, including:

• MAISH – previously detected disabling AIS near the Canary Islands.
• SKY RIDER – implicated in undeclared oil transfers off the coast of Oman.
• BORACAY – listed in an EU monitoring report for transshipment violations.
• FLORA 1 – recently intercepted in international waters for document discrepancies.

Satellite imagery and open-source maritime tracking confirm repeated patterns of identity swapping, flag misuse, and false port-of-call declarations consistent with sanctions-evasion behaviour.

Benin’s Response and Diplomatic Escalation

Confronted with the scale and potential consequences of this fraud, Benin has initiated a robust countermeasure framework, including:

1. Launch of a National Investigation – A multi-agency task force has been established under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to trace the network behind the forgeries.

2. Formal Notification to the IMO – A letter and complete vessel list were submitted for verification and international circulation.

3. Request for Multilateral Action – Benin has asked all IMO member states to inspect and detain vessels operating under its flag without authorization.

4. Call for Sanctions – Cotonou urges the imposition of penalties against fraudulent registries and maritime service providers involved in the falsification chain.

Regional and International Implications

For Benin

The fraudulent use of its flag exposes Benin to:

• International liability in the event of maritime accidents or pollution incidents.
• Loss of maritime credibility under IMO conventions.
• Potential financial claims or blacklisting by global insurers and port authorities.

For the Gulf of Guinea

The incident highlights a broader maritime governance gap in West Africa, where limited regulatory oversight has allowed external actors to exploit national registries.
The Gulf of Guinea — already facing piracy, illegal fishing, and oil theft — now faces a new layer of maritime threat linked to sanctions evasion and clandestine logistics operations.

For Global Security

The misuse of African flags contributes to a shadow maritime economy that:

• enables sanctioned states and private actors to maintain global trade routes.
• undermines international law enforcement mechanisms.
• and complicates NATO and EU maritime monitoring efforts in the Atlantic corridor.

African Security Analysis (ASA) Assessment

The Benin flag fraud case represents a strategic warning signal for maritime governance across Africa.
ASA assesses that:

• The scheme is likely coordinated by offshore intermediaries linked to companies operating out of Dubai, Hong Kong, and the Baltic region.
• The use of forged African flags will continue as a preferred evasion method for sanctions-affected operators.
• Without enhanced maritime data sharing, registry verification mechanisms, and regional enforcement coordination, similar cases are expected to multiply.

Benin’s proactive engagement with the IMO sets an important precedent but also exposes the systemic vulnerability of African maritime administrations to cyber-forgery and document fraud networks.

Conclusion

The fraudulent use of Benin’s national flag by 33 illegal vessels reflects a larger maritime security crisis tied to sanctions-busting operations, document falsification, and flag-of-convenience manipulation.

While Benin’s response has been swift, the implications extend well beyond its borders.
This case underscores the urgent need for:

• a regional maritime intelligence framework across the Gulf of Guinea,
• stronger flag-state verification protocols, and
• real-time data exchange between African coastal states and the IMO.

Prepared by:
African Security Analysis (ASA) – Maritime Intelligence Unit
Sources: Benin Ministry of Transport, ASA local contacts, Satellite and OSINT monitoring