UK Charges Indian Captain Ajay Pant Over Sanctions Breach On Smyrtos In English Channel

British commandos boarded and intercepted the sanctioned Russian oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel, and the UK’s National Crime Agency said on Monday that the captain, Indian national Ajay Pant, was charged with contravening sanctions.

The NCA said Pant was charged with "directly or indirectly supplying or delivering by ship prohibited oil/oil products from Russia to a third country" and that he is set to appear at the Southampton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

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The operation was supported by aircraft from the Maritime Air Group, including Chinooks, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat, as well as an RAF P-8 aircraft, and involved HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.

LBC quoted Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis saying, "Operations like this require skill, professionalism and courage," while the Ministry of Defence said the interdiction was the first UK-led operation of its kind.

The ship, described as “stateless” by the UK Government and sailing under a Cameroonian flag, was detained and remains anchored off Weymouth, in Dorset, alongside HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the operation "delivers yet another blow to Russia" and reminded those fuelling President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine that they "cannot hide."

LBC also quoted shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge asking why "94 shadow fleet vessels passed through in the year to May when Starmer announced this would stop in March."

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The Ministry of Defence said the shadow fleet is made up of more than a thousand ageing tankers that illicitly ship oil and other goods out of Russia by flying the flags of other countries, with the aim of evading sanctions imposed by the West since the invasion of Ukraine began.

LBC reported that under the terms of an order issued by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander on Monday, the vessel is now formally prevented from leaving the UK.

The NCA said it is understood that another 24 Georgian and Indian crew members remain on board and are assisting the investigation, while Pant will appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

The Lancashire Telegraph reported that the CPS decided to prosecute Ajay Pant for breaching Russian sanctions following a National Crime Agency investigation and the seizure of the shadow oil tanker, MV Smyrtos, travelling through the English Channel over the last weekend.

Lancashire Telegraph said that under 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.

The same report said Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander issued an order formally preventing the vessel from leaving the UK, and that Pant will appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Hindustan Times said Pant was charged in connection with alleged violation of Western sanctions on Russia, and quoted the NCA statement that he was charged during the period of June 2026 with directly or indirectly supplying or delivering prohibited oil or oil products from Russia to a third country.

Hindustan Times also said the remaining 24 crew members, from India and Georgia, remain on board the vessel, which the agency said is anchored off Weymouth in Dorset, while the NCA said its investigation remains ongoing.