Captain of Russian shadow fleet captured by Royal Marines has been charged with contravening sanctions

By PERKIN AMALARAJ, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 19:32, 15 June 2026 | Updated: 19:43, 15 June 2026 The captain of the Russian shadow fleet vessel boarded by Royal Marines over the weekend has been charged with contravening sanctions.  Commandos stormed aboard the Cameroonian-flagged vessel, named the Smyrtos, on Sunday morning.  They were joined by officers from the National Crime Agency, who arrested Ajay Pant, the 38-year-old captain.  Pant was charged with contravening Reg 46Z9B Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and directly or indirectly supplying or delivering by ship prohibited oil or oil products from Russia to a third country during June 2026.  He will appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. The NCA said that the 24 Georgian and Indian crew remained onboard and were 'assisting the investigation.' The daring six-hour raid ordered by Sir Keir Starmer, was praised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as 'an important step against Russia's oil fleet'.  The Smyrtos had been at sea for nine days after leaving the port of Ust Luga near St Petersburg on June 5 laden with crude. Video shows helicopters intercepting the Smyrtos in the first operation of its kind, with forces 'fast-roping' down on to the vessel And early on Sunday morning, an RAF Poseidon P-8 was cleared for take-off from RAF Lossiemouth, in Scotland, towards the Channel. Already on station were the Royal Navy's HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury acting as a 'surface screen' around the 801ft-long tanker. Chinook, Wildcat and Merlin helicopters carrying Special Boat Service (SBS) and 42 Commando troops took off from an undisclosed location in the South West where final rehearsals for the raid had taken place. The Daily Mail understands the SBS, equipped with Canadian C8 assault rifles and night vision goggles were the first to approach the Smyrtos, their Chinook hovering in the darkness over the tanker's 138ft-wide hull. After fast-roping on to the ship, their role was to secure it. Moving tactically and with their rifles pulled tight into their shoulders, the troops raced to the bridge to neutralise any threat posed by her captain and crew. They were followed by Royal Marines from 42 Commando whose responsibilities included searching the ship and protecting the National Crime Agency (NCA) officers who do not carry weapons. Commandos captured 25 crew members on board the vessel. Royal Marines commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Tom Quinn said crew on the ship did not pose any resistance to the take over, The Sun reported. Ministry of Defence footage showed Commandos moving in formation down staircases and from room to room and guarding NCA officers as they studied documentation aboard.   After the raid, Sir Keir immediately went on social media to praise the operation while the MoD flooded social media with footage. Meanwhile the Smyrtos was steered towards Portland where she is expected to remain pending investigations. The tanker has been subject to UK sanctions since 2025. Heavily-armed personnel are seen taking control and checking through paperwork on the bridge  The intervention seemingly convinced three other shadow fleet vessels to abandon their passage through the Channel.  Putin uses so-called shadow fleet tankers to evade sanctions on Russian energy products and generate revenue for his illegal occupation of Ukraine and threats to the UK and Europe. His armada of 700 poorly maintained vessels sail under different flags. These tankers transport an estimated 75 per cent of Russia's sanctioned crude oil, bypassing sanctions and maritime regulations and generating billions for Putin's war coffers. Due to their disrepair the ships also pose a major environmental threat. In recent weeks the UK has played a supportive role in similar French-led operations but Sunday's raid represents the UK's first clamp down on the Kremlin's illegal trade. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.