Six-hour operation in the English Channel marks a significant escalation in efforts to enforce sanctions on Russian oil exports
A 38-year-old Indian national has been arrested after British authorities intercepted a sanctioned Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker in the English Channel, marking the first UK-led operation of its kind against a vessel accused of helping Moscow evade international sanctions.
The arrest followed a major six-hour operation conducted in the early hours of 14 June, involving Royal Marine commandos, National Crime Agency (NCA) officers, Royal Navy vessels and military aircraft. The tanker, identified as Smyrtos, was boarded and secured by British forces before being placed under investigation.
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According to the NCA, the Indian citizen was detained on suspicion of offences under UK sanctions regulations relating to Russia
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He remains in custody for questioning while investigators continue examining the vessel’s operations and documentation. Authorities said the wider investigation remains ongoing.
The Smyrtos is believed to be part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, a network of ageing tankers used to transport oil while circumventing Western sanctions imposed following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. These vessels often operate through complex ownership structures, disputed registrations and other methods designed to obscure their activities.
The operation involved Royal Marines descending onto the tanker from a Chinook helicopter, supported by Merlin and Wildcat helicopters, an RAF P-8 surveillance aircraft, and the naval vessels HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury. Footage released by the Ministry of Defence showed personnel conducting searches of the ship and inspecting records on board.
The tanker remains off the Dorset coast while investigations continue. Reports indicate that the vessel’s remaining crew members, believed to include Indian and Georgian nationals, are assisting authorities. The interception has been hailed by the UK government as a significant step in disrupting revenue streams that support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
