SOUTHAMPTON — Ajay Pant, captain of the tanker MV Smyrtos, was arrested on the evening of June 14, 2026, after Royal Marines and National Crime Agency officers boarded his vessel in UK territorial waters. He faces charges under Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 for allegedly supplying prohibited Russian oil to a third country.

Officers boarded the vessel on the morning of June 14, 2026. At the time of interception, the tanker was flying the flag of Cameroon, but Cameroonian authorities had previously removed it from their national shipping registry, rendering it legally stateless. The boarding operation took place south of the Isle of Wight as the ship traveled from Russia toward India.

Pant, a 38-year-old Indian national, appeared by videolink from Bournemouth police station at Southampton magistrates court on Tuesday. Prosecutor Varun Chuni stated, "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."

Chuni confirmed Pant's arrest, saying, "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." During the hearing, Pant confirmed his name and date of birth and provided an address in India. He did not enter a plea, and a magistrates court remanded him into custody following the preliminary hearing.

The Ministry of Defence released footage depicting personnel descending from a helicopter onto the tanker during the night, while officers examined shipping documents. Prime Minister Keir Starmer released a video on Sunday that showed military personnel boarding the vessel. According to Lloyd's List, the MV Smyrtos was carrying over 100,000 tonnes of Russian crude oil.

Solicitor James Diamond requested that the case be transferred to the Crown Court. 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." Currently, the MV Smyrtos is anchored off the coast of Weymouth in Dorset, with twenty-four crew members from Georgia and India remaining aboard.