Captain of Russian vessel captured by Royal Marines charged with contravening sanctions

The National Crime Agency has charged the captain of a Russian shadow fleet tanker with sanctions breaches following a dramatic seizure operation in the English Channel.

Ajay Pant, a 38-year-old Indian national who commanded the vessel Smyrtos, faces prosecution after Royal Marine commandos and NCA officers boarded and captured the ship in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The operation marked the first time British forces have led an interdiction to seize a sanctioned vessel.

According to the NCA, Pant allegedly violated UK sanctions by supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil products to a third country this month.

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The charge relates to Section 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which prohibits the direct or indirect supply of oil products by ship from Russia to other nations.

Under part nine of the 2019 regulations, trade offences of this nature carry severe penalties, with those convicted potentially facing imprisonment for up to a decade, a financial penalty, or both.

Pant is scheduled to appear before Southampton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday to face the allegations.

The prosecution represents a significant enforcement action under Britain's sanctions regime targeting Russia's maritime oil trade operations.

The Smyrtos currently lies at anchor off the Dorset coast near Weymouth, with its 24 crew members remaining aboard the detained vessel.

The crew comprises nationals from both Georgia and India.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander moved swiftly on Monday to issue a formal order barring the tanker from leaving British waters.

This administrative action ensures the ship cannot depart while legal proceedings against its captain continue.

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The vessel's detention follows what authorities described as a carefully coordinated operation between military personnel and law enforcement agencies, representing an unprecedented British-led effort to physically intercept a ship subject to Russian sanctions.

In his inaugural address as Defence Secretary, Dan Jarvis told Parliament that the interdiction "deals another blow to Putin".

"We do not seek escalation, but we will always take the necessary steps to enforce UK sanctions," he informed MPs.

Mr Jarvis highlighted the broader impact of British measures, noting that the UK has imposed sanctions on more than 550 Russian shadow fleet vessels.

"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 added.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves joined Jarvis on the frontbench, with the Defence Secretary describing her as "someone who cares very deeply about our national security".

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