Indian captain arrested in UK for breaching Russia sanctions, family seeks government help

LONDON/DEHRADUN: Ajay Pant, a 38-year-old Indian citizen from Nainital, Uttarakhand, has been arrested in the United Kingdom after British armed forces intercepted the oil tanker he was commanding. The vessel, MV Smyrtos, was accused of being part of a 'shadow fleet' transporting Russian oil in violation of international sanctions.

Pant appeared via video link at Southampton Magistrates' Court on June 16, charged with directly or indirectly supplying or delivering prohibited Russian oil from Russia to a third country by ship, contrary to Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. The offence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

His solicitor, James Diamond, told the court: '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 just an employee doing his job who now finds himself before a British court.'

The arrest followed a boarding operation on June 14, when Royal Marines and officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) boarded the MV Smyrtos after it entered UK territorial waters without a legitimate flag. The vessel had been flying the Cameroonian flag until Cameroon removed it from its registry earlier this month, leaving the ship stateless.

Prosecutor Varun Chuni stated that Pant, identified as the vessel's master, was arrested and remanded in custody. District Judge David Robinson sent the case to Bournemouth Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on July 16.

The operation, which UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he personally directed, involved Royal Marine commandos descending from a Chinook helicopter onto the tanker at night. Starmer described the action as 'another blow to Russia'. The UK government has designated the MV Smyrtos as part of a shadow fleet of approximately 700 ships that transport 75% of Russia's sanctioned oil exports, funds that allegedly support the war against Ukraine.

Pant's family in Uttarakhand has appealed to the Indian government for assistance. His wife, Ritu Pant, stated she learned of her husband's arrest through British media reports on social media and had received no official communication from either UK or Indian authorities. She described his maritime career of over 15 years as 'spotless' and maintained that he was merely following orders from his employer.

Uttarakhand Home Secretary Shailesh Bagauli told The Times of India that the state government has written to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) seeking assistance. 'We wrote to MEA two days ago to seek their assistance for Pant's release and return. Our regional commissioner based in Delhi is coordinating with central authorities in the matter,' he said.

The Indian High Commission in the UK has been granted consular access to Pant. The 24 crew members from Georgia and India remain on board the vessel, which is anchored off Weymouth in Dorset and being monitored for environmental and safety concerns.

According to Lloyd's List, the MV Smyrtos loaded 1,01,400 tonnes of Urals crude at Russia's Ust-Luga terminal on June 4 and was headed to Sikka port in Gujarat, India. The tanker had been under European Union and UK sanctions since October 2025.

The case highlights the complexities of international sanctions enforcement, where individual mariners may find themselves caught between their duties as employees and their obligations under international law.