Captain Paul Watson — environmental activist and star of the show “Whale Wars” — was arrested in Greenland… and a video posted to his foundation’s X account captures the shocking moment.
His foundation, the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, has posted a video describing what it was like when he landed in Nuuk, Greenland, to refuel for his voyage through the Northwest Passage to intercept the Japanese whaling ship Kangei Maru.
This morning, Captain Paul Watson was arrested by the Danish Federal Police in Nuuk, Greenland. He boarded the M/Y John Paul DeJoria as soon as it docked.
The crew stopped briefly to refuel en route to the Northwest Passage. #OpKangeiMaruThe goal of our campaign is… pic.twitter.com/ANWoRFiR42
—Captain Paul Watson Foundation 🐋🏴☠️ (@CaptPaulWatson) July 21, 2024
@CaptPaulWatson
However, the foundation said that as soon as the ship docked, the Danish Federal Police boarded the ship and arrested Watson.
Footage posted by the foundation shows police taking Watson (who has long white hair and a thick beard) off the boat, escorting him to a police vehicle and then driving him away.
The Associated Press, citing a police statement, confirmed Watson was arrested and a district court will decide on extradition.
In the footage, one of the Danish police officers is seen telling the crew that Paul has been arrested under an international arrest order from Japan, and the foundation is confident that the longer Paul remains in Greenland, the more likely it is that he will be extradited to Tokyo.
For those who don’t know… Watson has been an opponent of the whaling industry for years. Since founding the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in the late 1970s, it has damaged and sunk ships worldwide. He is also a founding member of Greenpeace.
His story and those of other prominent anti-whaling activists were featured in the 2008-2015 series “Whale Wars,” which featured captains of various Sea Shepherd vessels using any means necessary to subdue whalers.
The Watson Foundation is appealing for funds to help free him from detention in Greenland before he can be extradited to Japan.
We have contacted the Danish authorities but have yet to hear back.
