The captain of a Russian shadow fleet vessel that was intercepted by British troops has been charged with contravening sanctions, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has confirmed.
Charges Filed
Indian national Ajay Pant, 38, has been charged with contravening Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, and with directly or indirectly supplying or delivering by ship prohibited oil or oil products from Russia to a third country during June 2026, the NCA said on Monday evening.
Seizure Operation
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. Pant will appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
The 24 crew members, from Georgia and India, remain on board the ship, which is currently anchored off Weymouth.
