The captain of an interdicted Russian shadow fleet vessel has been charged by the Crown Prosecution Service following an arrest by National Crime Agency officers.

Indian national Ajay Pant, 38, has been charged with directly or indirectly supplying or delivering by ship prohibited oil / oil products from Russia to a third country during the period of June 2026 in contravention of Reg 46Z9B Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

The vessel was interdicted in the early hours of yesterday morning (14 June).

Ajay Pant will appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court tomorrow (16 June).

The charges were authorised by the CPS following a review of the file submitted by the NCA.

The 24 crew members, from Georgia and India, remain on board the vessel.

15 June 2026