- Indian national Ajay Pant, captain of the shadow oil tanker, MV Smyrtos, has been charged with breaching Russian sanctions.
- Pant is accused of directly or indirectly supplying prohibited Russian oil or oil products to a third country in June 2026.
- The MV Smyrtos, identified as a Russian 'shadow fleet' vessel, was intercepted by Royal Marine commandos and National Crime Agency officers in the English Channel.
- Pant appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court and was remanded in custody, with his case sent to Bournemouth Crown Court for a hearing on 16 July.
- The tanker, carrying an estimated 98,000 tonnes of oil, is now formally prevented from leaving the UK and is anchored off Weymouth, with its 24 crew members remaining on board.
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