Russian tanker captain remanded into custody after vessel seized in Channel

Ajay Pant charged with sanctions breach over shadow fleet ship carrying 98,000 tonnes of oil boarded by British troops

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.

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.

Pant, an Indian national, appeared at Southampton magistrates court by video link from Bournemouth police station on Tuesday for a preliminary hearing during which he spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and gave his address as being in India.

He gave no indication of his plea and his solicitor, James Diamond, requested the case be sent to the crown court, adding that his client was “simply following orders”.

Prosecutor Verun Chuni told the court people who are found guilty of the charges faced by Pant face a “substantial” sentence of up to 10 years.

Chuni said: “The facts of this matter are that on the morning of June 14, 2026, Royal Marines and the National Crime Agency boarded MV Smyrtos. That vessel had entered UK territorial waters without a legitimate flag.

“The master of that vessel has been identified as Mr Pant. He is an Indian national, and he was arrested on the evening of June 14 and remanded in custody.”

Chuni said: “The amount of oil being carried was significant. I am told that it is 98,000 tonnes of oil. It is uncontroversial to state that it will be a significant value of money.”

He said that the vessel was sailing under the Cameroon flag at the time it was seized.

Defending, Diamond said: “The defendant is very clear on his actions that it was not his choice as to where this vessel was going or the cargo this vessel was carrying. He was simply following orders from those in the corporation. He is simply an employee doing his job who finds himself put before a British court.”

The prime minister, Keir Starmer, released a video on TikTok on Sunday showing heavily armed Royal Marine commandos boarding the oil-laden tanker, which had been sailing south of the Isle of Wight en route from Russia to India.

Video later released by the MoD showed marine commandos roping down from a Chinook helicopter on to the tanker at night, and officers from the National Crime Agency inspecting the seized tanker’s paperwork.

The Smyrtos was carrying more than 100,000 tonnes of Russian crude oil, according to the maritime publication Lloyd’s List, and though it had sailed under a Cameroon flag it had been expelled from the African country’s registry, leaving it legally stateless.

The 24 crew members, from Georgia and India, remain on board the ship, which is anchored off Weymouth in Dorset.