Seizure of tanker Eagle S cost Finland €1.4 million
Finland's police and border guard operation in December 2024 to take control of the tanker Eagle S cost the state about €1.39 million. The vessel was suspected of damaging communications cables.
The seizure of the tanker Eagle S and the related pre-trial investigation cost Finland almost €1.4 million, according to the Finnish public broadcaster Yle. The vessel was suspected of damaging undersea communications cables in the Gulf of Finland.
On 26 December 2024, Finnish police and the border guard carried out a special operation in which the tanker was taken under their control. The Finnish Central Criminal Police then opened a large-scale investigation into the circumstances of the cable damage. The Eagle S case has since reached the Supreme Court.
Cost report
The finance department of Finland's Ministry of the Interior prepared a cost report based on data from police units. It states that the operation caused additional personnel and other expenses for the police totalling about €1.39 million.
Almost 80% of the costs were overtime pay and other compensation linked to working hours. A significant share of the expenses resulted from the operation taking place over the Christmas holidays. The remainder went on other costs related to the operation.
Assessment
Yle writes that the Eagle S case shows how expensive an operation can be when critical infrastructure is suspected of being damaged. The Ministry of the Interior assesses that the authorities acted swiftly and prevented possible further damage in the Gulf of Finland. Politicians have also praised the authorities' prompt actions.
