New Zealand warned Pacific neighbour over oil smuggling 'shadow fleet'

The small Pacific island is home to a flourishing international shipping registry, allowing foreign vessels to sail under its flag for a modest fee of a few thousand dollars. There is mounting evidence the archipelago has become a haven for foreign smugglers, who sail under the Cook Islands flag to escape scrutiny as they flout Western sanctions. New Zealand officials in 2024 compiled a list of 19 tankers -- or "vessels of concern" -- that had been registered to the Cook Islands in recent years.