Lebanon has found itself at the center of a widening international oil scandal with complex political, economic, and security implications, after prosecutors uncovered evidence of sanctions evasion linked to a Russian fuel shipment disguised as Turkish.

The case came to light under Energy Minister Joe Saddi, who has insisted on referring all suspicions involving his ministry to the judiciary. His push for transparency led to the exposure of the affair surrounding the Panama-flagged tanker HAWK III, which entered Lebanese waters carrying Russian fuel oil falsely documented as Turkish in origin.

After weeks of investigations, Lebanon’s top prosecutor wrapped up a preliminary inquiry that confirmed “clear forgery” in the cargo’s paperwork, according to judicial sources cited by Nidaa al-Watan newspaper. The findings led to the arrest of the ship’s captain and two others, including a company official responsible for verifying cargo data and fuel quality.

The HAWK III, operated by Dubai-based Sahara Energy, docked at the Jiyeh power plant to unload its cargo for Lebanon’s Energy and Water Ministry. A report by a maritime expert appointed by Attorney General Jamal Hajjjar confirmed that the ship had sailed from a Russian port before briefly stopping in Turkey’s Mersin harbor, where the documents were altered to conceal the fuel’s Russian origin.

Investigators said the scheme collapsed under technical evidence, shipping-tracking data, and even a crew member’s admission that the vessel never discharged cargo in Turkey, but only took on diesel fuel to mask its journey in violation of G7 restrictions on Russian oil exports.

In a dramatic twist, the HAWK III tried to flee Lebanese waters by shutting off its tracking systems. The Lebanese army intercepted the tanker at sea in a special operation that resulted in the detention of its 22-member crew. 

Meanwhile, the financial prosecutor has opened a parallel probe into inflated pricing of imported Russian oil. Early findings suggest Lebanon may have paid as much as 70 percent above market value, allowing traders to pocket illicit profits while bypassing sanctions.

Judicial sources said the case will not stop with the HAWK III. The probe is expected to widen to cover all players in Lebanon’s oil import chain, including intermediary firms suspected of reaping huge gains by buying discounted Russian fuel and reselling it locally at double global prices. That could open the way to serious financial and criminal prosecutions.

The case threatens to embarrass Lebanon internationally, as it directly touches on sanctions imposed on Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. While the measures do not ban Russian oil outright, they cap its sale price. Investigators say the deals under scrutiny breached those rules through forged documents and sanction-dodging schemes.

Legal experts warned that both companies and individuals involved could face international prosecution if evidence proves deliberate fraud and prior knowledge by Lebanese actors.