A 38-year-old man has been arrested following a joint operation by the British armed forces and the National Crime Agency (NCA) to board a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel.
Arrest and Charges
The man, an Indian national, was arrested on suspicion of sanctions offences under the Russia Regulations. The vessel, named SMYRTOS, was intercepted on Sunday morning, June 14, in what has been described as the first operation of its kind.
Government Response
The seizure has been hailed as a significant blow to what Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis called 'Putin's illegal war'. Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the operation, stating: 'This operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide.'
Operation Details
The NCA confirmed on X: 'This morning, NCA officers worked alongside partners such as the British Armed Forces to board and seize the SMYRTOS — a sanctioned Russian shadow fleet oil tanker intercepted in the English Channel.' The military operation lasted six hours and involved aircraft from the Maritime Air Group, including Chinooks, Merlin Mk4, and Wildcat helicopters, as well as an RAF P-8 aircraft, HMS Sutherland, and HMS Ledbury.
Next Steps
The arrested man has been taken into custody and will be interviewed by NCA investigators. The SMYRTOS will be provisionally moved to an anchorage off the South Coast of England, where it will be monitored for environmental or safety concerns.
Context
In March, the Prime Minister agreed that British Armed Forces and law enforcement officers could board shadow fleet vessels in accordance with international law. This operation marks the first such interdiction.
