UK Detains Indian Merchant Navy Captain Ajay Pant of Sanctioned Russian Oil Tanker MV Smyrtos; Uttarakhand Family Seeks Government Intervention
According to British authorities, the Russian oil tanker, identified as MV Smyrtos, was intercepted by Royal Marines and the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) on June 14 after entering UK territorial waters without what officials described as a legitimate flag. The captain, Ajay Pant, has been charged with allegedly violating UK sanctions.
An Indian merchant navy captain from Uttarakhand has been arrested in the United Kingdom after British authorities intercepted a sanctioned Russian oil tanker in the English Channel. The captain, Ajay Pant, has been charged with allegedly violating UK sanctions related to the transportation of Russian oil, while his family has appealed to the Indian government to secure his release and safe return, as reported by TOI. According to British authorities, the tanker, identified as MV Smyrtos, was intercepted by Royal Marines and the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) on June 14 after entering UK territorial waters without what officials described as a legitimate flag.
Pant, 38, a resident of Nainital in Uttarakhand and the vessel's master, was subsequently arrested and produced before Southampton Magistrates' Court via video link. Prosecutors have charged him with allegedly supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil to a third country in violation of the UK's Russia (Sanctions) Regulations. The offence carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
Defence Says Captain Was Following Employer’s Orders
During court proceedings, Pant's lawyer argued that the captain had no control over the cargo or the vessel's commercial route, maintaining that he was carrying out instructions issued by his employer.
The defence contended that Pant was a salaried employee performing his professional duties and should not be held responsible for decisions regarding the ship's cargo or destination. The case has been transferred to Bournemouth Crown Court, where a plea and trial preparation hearing is scheduled for July 16.
Family Appeals to Centre for Help
Pant's family in Uttarakhand has urged the Government of India to intervene diplomatically, stating that he is an innocent seafarer caught in a geopolitical dispute.
Uttarakhand Home Secretary Shailesh Bagauli said the state government has written to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), requesting assistance in securing Pant's release and facilitating his return to India. Officials said the Indian High Commission in London has already been granted consular access to the captain.
Part of Wider Crackdown on Russia's 'Shadow Fleet'
The arrest comes amid intensified enforcement by the UK and its allies against Russia's so-called "shadow fleet"—a network of tankers allegedly used to transport Russian oil while circumventing Western sanctions imposed after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
British authorities said the interception of MV Smyrtos was the first UK-led operation of its kind following expanded powers introduced earlier this year to board and detain suspected sanctions-evading vessels operating in UK waters.
Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Western governments have imposed sweeping sanctions targeting Russia's energy exports. Enforcement agencies have increasingly focused on vessels suspected of transporting sanctioned oil through complex ownership structures and disputed registrations.
Pant's arrest has drawn attention in India, with his family maintaining that merchant navy officers have limited control over commercial shipping operations and should not be held personally liable for cargo-related decisions made by shipping companies. The legal proceedings in the UK are expected to continue in the coming weeks.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 21, 2026 12:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
