UK Crime Agency Charges Indian Captain Arrested in Russian Shadow Fleet Oil Tanker Raid
An Indian man arrested by UK authorities was identified on Monday as Captain Ajay Pant and charged in connection with alleged violation of Western sanctions on Russia.
The arrest was made during a joint operation over the weekend between the UK’s National Crime Agency and the British armed forces to intercept a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel. “Indian national Ajay Pant, 38, has been charged with contravening Reg 46Z9B Russia Regulations 2019 and directly or indirectly supplying or delivering by ship prohibited oil / oil products from Russia to a third country during the period of June 2026,” the NCA said.
Charges Authorized After Review
Pant will appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service authorized the charges against him following a review of the file submitted by the NCA. The agency’s Director General, Graeme Biggar, stated that the NCA remains committed to working with partners to tackle Russia’s sanctions evasion.
Remaining Crew Members Detained
Meanwhile, the remaining 24 crew members, from India and Georgia, remain on board the vessel, the agency said. The SMYRTOS oil tanker, which was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the NCA, remains at anchorage off the Dorset coast in south-west England.
UK Prime Minister’s Statement
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had confirmed on Sunday that the vessel SMYRTOS was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers from the NCA in the first UK-led operation of its kind. “Following the interdiction of a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the early hours of 14 June, a 38-year-old Indian national has been arrested by officers from the National Crime Agency on suspicion of suspected sanctions offences under the Russia regulations,” an NCA spokesperson said in a statement earlier.
Military Support
The military operation, which lasted six hours, was supported with aircraft from the Maritime Air Group – Chinooks, Merlin Mk4 and Wildcat – a Royal Air Force P-8 aircraft, as well as HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury. The enforcement action over the weekend is said to have taken place in international waters in accordance with domestic and international law, following an agreement in March that British armed forces and law enforcement officers were able to board shadow fleet vessels.
Shadow Fleet’s Significance
According to the Ministry of Defence, the shadow fleet of over 700 vessels is responsible for carrying 75 per cent of Russia’s sanctioned oil and provides a critical lifeline for the Kremlin. It is credited with generating a “war fund” that supplies missiles and drones targeting “innocent Ukrainian civilians and sustaining Russia’s illegal war”. The UK is a leader in tackling the shadow fleet, having already sanctioned over 500 vessels.
Original Article: UK crime agency charges Indian captain arrested in Russian shadow fleet oil tanker raid — Hindustantimes