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Indian captain arrested in Russian shadow fleet oil tanker charged with ... The captain of a Russian shadow fleet vessel, intercepted by British forces, has been charged with contravening sanctions , the National Crime Agency (NCA) has confirmed. Ajay Pant, a 38-year-old Indian national, faces charges of directly or indirectly supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil or oil products to a third country by ship in June 2026. This alleged breach falls under Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, as announced by the NCA on Monday. The tanker Smyrtos was seized in the English Channel early on Sunday by Royal Marine commandos and NCA officers, marking the first UK-led operation to capture a sanctioned vessel. Following the interception, transport secretary Heidi Alexander issued an order on Monday, formally preventing the ship from departing UK waters. ( Getty ) Mr Pant is scheduled to appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. The vessel’s 24 crew members, comprising Georgian and Indian nationals, remain aboard the ship, which is currently anchored off Weymouth in Dorset. Individuals found guilty of such a trade offence under the 2019 reg…

UK charges captain of Russian shadow fleet tanker with sanctions breach ... UK charges captain of Russian shadow fleet tanker with sanctions breach after English Channel boarding Royal Marine Commandos intercepted the MV Smyrtos in the first UK-led boarding of a sanctioned Russian shadow fleet vessel, with the captain now facing up to 10 years in prison Share Add us on Google by Editorial Team Jun. 15, 2026 British authorities have charged the captain of an oil tanker with breaching Russian sanctions, marking a sharp escalation in the UK’s enforcement campaign against the so-called shadow fleet that helps Moscow skirt Western restrictions on its energy exports. Ajay Pant, a 38-year-old Indian national who captained the MV Smyrtos, was charged on June 15, 2026, under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. How the interception unfolded The day before the charges were filed, Royal Marine Commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency boarded the MV Smyrtos in the English Channel. It was, by all accounts, a first: the UK’s inaugural boarding of a sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker. Advertisement Pant is accused of …

‘Shadow fleet’ tanker captain appears in Southampton court https://www.eucup.com/1674930/ Ajay Pant, 38, an Indian national, has been charged under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 with supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil to a third country in June 2026. Mr Pant …

russian tanker captain remanded into custody after vessel seized in the English Channel 🖊️ Jamie Grierson Ajay Pant (an Indian national) charged with sanctions breach over shadow fleet ship carrying 98,000 tonnes of oil boarded by British troops www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Captain of Russian shadow fleet vessel charged with contravening sanctions – The Journal https://www.europesays.com/ie/537762/ Captain of Russian shadow fleet vessel charged with contravening sanctions  The Journal Starmer says UK to supply enriched uranium…

Russian tanker captain remanded into custody after vessel seized in Channel <p>Ajay Pant charged with sanctions breach over shadow fleet ship carrying 98,000 tonnes of oil boarded by British troops </p><p>The captain of a Russian shadow fleet vessel containing 98,000 tonnes of oil, which was intercepted by British troops in the Channel, has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with breaching sanctions.</p><p>Ajay Pant, 38, has been charged with directly or indirectly supplying or delivering by ship prohibited oil or oil products from Russia to a third country in June 2026, in contravention of Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/16/russian-shadow-tanker-captain-ajay-pant-remanded-into-custody">Continue reading...</a>

🛳️ The captain of the Russian “shadow” tanker Smyrtos, detained by British military personnel in the English Channel, has been remanded in custody after appearing in court. He is accused of violating sanctions by supplying or transporting Russian oil to a third country, - The Guardian

Captain of Russian shadow ship detained. The captain of the Russian shadow fleet vessel detained by the UK Government has been charged with contravening sanctions, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

Captain of Russian shadow fleet tanker charged with contravening sanctions https://www.europesays.com/britain/63692/ The captain of a Russian shadow fleet vessel, which was intercepted by British troops, has been charged with…

The Guardian: UK court remanded Ajay Pant, Indian captain of Russia-linked shadow tanker Smyrtos seized in the Channel. Prosecutors say it carried ~98,000 tons of Russian oil while stateless, breaching sanctions. He faces up to 10 years.

The Captain of Russian shadow fleet oil tanker MV Smyrtos, intercepted by Royal Marine Commandos in the English Channel on Sunday has been charged with contravening sanctions, the National Crime Agency said. Ajay Pant, a 38-year-old will appear in Court on Tuesday. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

UK court processing a shadow vessel captain for contravening UK's Russian sanctions regulations, is keeping the captain locked up as the offense carries a serious ten year penalty if convicted, which means there's a risk defendants might flea. www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/2619983....

🛳️ The captain of the Russian “shadow” tanker Smyrtos, detained by British military personnel in the English Channel, has been remanded in custody after appearing in court. He is accused of violating sanctions by supplying or transporting Russian oil to a third country, - The Guardian 1/2

Captain of seized Russian shadow fleet ship appears in court Captain of seized Russian shadow fleet ship appears in court Court National government Portland Weymouth Share Handout photo issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of British armed forces intercepting a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the Channel in the early hours of Sunday. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Royal Marine commandos and specially trained law (Image: LPhot Hutchins/MoD Crown copyright/PA Wire) This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. THE captain of a Russian shadow fleet vessel which was intercepted by British troops in the English Channel and now anchored off the Dorset coast has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with breaching sanctions. Indian national Ajay Pant has been charged with directly or indirectly supplying or delivering by ship prohibited oil or oil products from Russia to a third country in June 2026, in contravention of Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 20…

Captain of Russian shadow fleet oil tanker intercepted by British ... ByRYAN HOOPER, CRIME CORRESPONDENT Published:10:52 EDT, 16 June 2026|Updated:11:01 EDT, 16 June 2026 The captain of a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker seized in the Channel claimed he was 'simply following orders'. Ajay Pant, 38, appeared at a magistrates' court today 48 hours after the vessel was intercepted by British Royal Marine Commandos off the coast of Britain in the early hours of Sunday. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Royal Marine commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the NationalCrimeAgency boarded the sanctioned oil tanker during a six-hour operation – the first UK-led operation of its kind. Pant, 38, is charged with directly or indirectly supplying or delivering by ship prohibited oil or oil products fromRussiato a third country in June 2026, in contravention of Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. He was not asked to enter a plea when he appeared before Southampton Magistrates' Court today via video link from a police station in Bournemouth. He spoke to confirm his name and date of birth and gave his address as being inIndia. But J…

The captain of a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker which was intercepted by Royal Marine Commandos in the English Channel on Sunday has been charged with contravening sanctions, the National Crime Agency said. www.bbc.com/news/article...

UK Charges Indian Captain of Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker UK Royal Marine Commandos take part in a maritime interdiction operation on the vessel SMYRTOS off the south coast of England, June 14, 2026. The boarding, carried out with National Crime Agency officers, was part of a UK operation targeting vessels suspected of attempting to evade sanctions linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine, authorities said. UK MOD Crown/LPhot Hutchins/Handout via REUTERS The captain of a tanker detained by British authorities during a high-profile operation targeting Russia’s shadow fleet has been charged with violating UK sanctions on Russian oil exports. The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said Sunday that 38-year-old Indian national Ajay Pant has been charged with directly or indirectly supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil or oil products by ship to a third country in violation of Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. Pant was arrested following theinterdiction of the tankerSmyrtosin the English Channelon Saturday and is scheduled to appear before Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Monday, June 16. The charges were authorized by the Crown Prosecution Servi…

‘Shadow fleet’ tanker captain appears in Southampton court https://www.eucup.com/1674930/ Ajay Pant, 38, an Indian national, has been charged under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 with supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil to a third country in June 2026. Mr Pant …

Captain of Russian shadow fleet tanker is charged after commandos ... Share on X (Opens in new window) X Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook THE captain of a Russian shadow fleet vessel has been charged with breaching sanctions after his ship was intercepted by British troops. Ajay Pant, 38, was navigating his tanker through the English Channel on Sunday when it was stormed by Royal Marine commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! 4 A ship captain has been charged for breaching sanctions after his ship was stormed by British troops 4 Royal Marine commandos and officers from the National Crime Agency stormed the vessel on Sunday Advertisement The Indian national has been charged with breaching sanctions and could face up to 10 years in prison . 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. Read more news TRAGIC END 'Beloved' mum who w…