Indian Captain Of Russian Shadow Fleet Oil Tanker Arrested In UK

An Indian captain of a sanctioned Russian oil tanker was arrested in the UK over sanctions breach. A Russian shadow fleet oil ‌tanker allegedly attempting to pass through the English Channel was intercepted by British armed forces last week. The captain, Ajay Pant, is a 38-year-old Indian national. He appeared in court after being charged with sanctions offences and he appeared via video link at Southampton Magistrates Court, according to a report by BBC. He is alleged to have been involved in the supply of oil from Russia to a third country in contravention of sanctions imposed on Russia. He was remanded in custody and is set to next appear at Bournemouth Crown Court on 16 July.According to Prosecutor Varun Chuni, as quoted by BBC, the seized

oil tanker was part of a 700-strong shadow fleet used to transport oil around the world.Another 24 crew members from India and Georgia remain onboard the seized oil tanker, which is currently anchored off Weymouth in Dorset.The vessel, SMYRTOS, was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and specially trained law enforcement officers ⁠from the National Crime Agency last Sunday. British Prime Minister Kier Starmer said that he ⁠had directed the interception.Royal Marine commandos rappelled from helicopters onto the vessel in the English Channel, in what the country’s Defence Ministry called "the first UK-led operation of its kind."Sailing under a Cameroon flag, the Smyrtos left the Russian Baltic port of Ust-Luga on June 5 destined for Port Said, Egypt, according to the MarineTraffic website.Ukraine President Voldymyr Zelenskyy had thanked Starmer and the British people for their "principled resolve." "It was Russia’s hubris, fueled by high oil and gas revenues, that paved the way for this war, and every decision by partners that deprives Russia of money also limits the war itself," Zelenskyy said on X."Europe urgently needs to take legislative steps to enable not only the detention of tankers and restrictions on oil shipments, but also the confiscation of the oil they carry."