The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has setup a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) with Estonia to probe into the suspected damage of telecommunications cable in the Gulf of Finland on December 31, 2025, said police in a press release on Friday. The JIT will enable the NBI to investigate into the incident smoothy in cooperation with the Estonian authorities. The police in cooperation with various authorities continued and investigation and interviewed the crew members of the cargo vessel Fitburg, which was detained for its suspected involvement in the cable damage incident. The vessel has 14 crew members on board during the incident. The police also conducted forensic examinations. “The interviews have clarified the course of events and the different roles of the crew members,” said the Tactical Leader, Detective Chief Superintendent of NBI Risto Lohi in the press release. The police are investigating the incident as aggravated criminal damage, attempted aggravated criminal damage, and aggravated interference with telecommunications. Criminal offences may change as the investigation progresses, said police. The police also continued the crime scene investigation on the seabed near the damaged cable, in cooperation with other authorities. The Border Guards patrol vessel Turva is leading the operational activities of the subsea crime scene investigation in cooperation with the NBI. The investigators are using the Gulf of Finland Coast Guard's diverse underwater equipment, including submersible robots, side-scan sonar, and multi-beam echo sounders The Defence Forces are also providing assistance. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) completed an inspection on Thursday and the inspection ensured that the vessel meets the requirements of the relevant international conventions. “The vessel is in normal condition for its age. During the inspection, we tested equipment and assessed the condition and compliance of the vessel's spaces, equipment, supplies, and systems. We also monitored the safety drill conducted by the vessel's crew," said Sanna Sonninen, Director of Maritime Affairs of Traficom. The number of deficiencies observed is typical for the vessels age, and the deficiencies are of a minor nature No deficiencies were found that would jeopardise safety. The report on the results of the port state control inspection will be completed next week. Earlier on January 1, the police arrested two individuals of the cargo vessel Fitburg and imposed travel ban on two other persons over the suspected damage of telecommunications cable in the Gulf of Finland on December 31, 2025. Finnish authorities detained the freighter Fitburg on suspicion of damaging undersea data cables in the Gulf of Finland early Wednesday.