The Busan Coast Guard has detained a 2,616-ton Russian-flagged refrigerated cargo ship accused of illegally discharging oil off South Korea’s coast and fleeing the scene.

The incident began on September 24, when a diver reported an oil slick near Busan. Investigators traced the pollution back to the vessel using drones and oil sample analysis. The Coast Guard determined the ship had released about 39 liters of waste oil due to a faulty valve during engine room operations.

After a four-day inspection, officers confirmed the spill’s origin matched oil stored aboard the vessel. A crewmember admitted to the discharge, strengthening the case. The Coast Guard is now seeking cleanup costs from the ship’s operator, though potential fines have not been announced.

Officials described the case as “a representative success story” in combining investigative methods with pollution enforcement.