The captain of a Russian shadow fleet tanker intercepted in the English Channel has been charged. Indian national Ajay Pant, 38, has been charged with contravening sanctions, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said on Monday.
Charges Under UK Sanctions Regulations
Pant is accused of contravening Section 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 by allegedly directly or indirectly supplying or delivering prohibited oil or oil products by ship from Russia to a third country during June 2026. Royal Marine commandos and officers from the NCA seized the tanker Smyrtos in the Channel early on Sunday in the first UK-led operation to capture a sanctioned vessel.
Government Actions
Earlier on Monday, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander issued an order which formally prevented the vessel from leaving the UK. Pant will appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. The 24 crew members, from Georgia and India, remain on board the ship, which is anchored off Weymouth in Dorset.
Penalties and Political Response
According to part nine of the 2019 regulations, someone who commits a trade offence such as the one Pant is accused of could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine or both. In his first statement as Defence Secretary, Dan Jarvis said the UK's interdiction of the vessel 'deals another blow to Putin.' He told MPs: 'We do not seek escalation, but we will always take the necessary steps to enforce UK sanctions. The UK has sanctioned over 550 Russian shadow fleet vessels, this has had a material impact. Nearly 200 have been forced to anchor because of the action of the UK and our partners, and yesterday's operation sends a clear signal to Russia that the UK and its allies can and will act against the Russian war machine.' He was joined on the frontbench by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who he said is 'someone who cares very deeply about our national security, and that is why she is here to lend that support.'
