The captain of a Russian shadow fleet vessel carrying nearly 98,000 tonnes of oil has been charged with breaching UK sanctions regulations after the tanker was intercepted by British forces in the English Channel. Ajay Pant, a 38-year-old Indian national, is accused of illegally transporting Russian oil to a third country in violation of the Russia Sanctions Regulations.

Pant appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court via video link from Bournemouth police station for a preliminary hearing. He confirmed his personal details but did not enter a plea. His lawyer, James Diamond, requested that the case be transferred to the Crown Court, arguing that Pant was “simply following orders” and was acting as an employee rather than a decision-maker.

Prosecutors said the charges could result in a significant sentence of up to 10 years in prison if Pant is convicted. They stated that Royal Marines and the National Crime Agency boarded the vessel MV Smyrtos on June 14, 2026, after it entered UK territorial waters without a valid flag.

According to the prosecution, Pant was the master of the vessel at the time of interception, and the tanker was carrying a substantial quantity of oil with a potentially significant financial value. The ship had been sailing under the Cameroon flag but was later removed from the country’s registry, leaving it legally stateless.

The incident comes amid increased scrutiny of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, a network of vessels used to transport Russian oil and avoid sanctions restrictions. The tanker was reportedly travelling from Russia to India when it was intercepted south of the Isle of Wight.

The UK government released footage showing Royal Marine commandos boarding the vessel, including a nighttime operation involving helicopter deployment. National Crime Agency officers also inspected the tanker’s documentation after the seizure.