Lebanon fuel scandal linked to sanctioned Russian shadow fleet sparks fresh investigations

Recent shipping records reveal that Lebanon’s large-scale fuel scandal involved vessels belonging to a Russian-connected shadow fleet that has been placed under G7 and EU sanctions. The documents identify companies and fifteen tankers, including the Vietnam-flagged TM Hai Ha 568, that moved Russian oil to Lebanon while disguising its origin as Egyptian or Turkish to bypass the $45-$100 price caps on fuel oil and diesel.

Front firms tied to the 2Rivers Group, now sanctioned, were used to source the oil between 2023 and 2025, generating substantial margins for the state. Following the revelations, Lebanese prosecutors have launched at least three separate cases against firms such as Iplom International SA and Sahara Energy Resources. Energy Minister Joseph Saddi, in office since February 2025, said his ministry promptly tightened tender specifications and referred prior violations to the judiciary. International regulators, including the UK, EU, US Treasury and Canada, have added several of the involved vessels and companies to their sanctions lists, reflecting a broader crackdown on clandestine maritime oil trade.