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  "path": "/news/smyrtos-captain-russia-shadow-fleet-tanker-court",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-16T14:00:24.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
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  "textContent": "\n\n\nThe suspected captain of a Russian shadow fleet vessel intercepted by British troops in the English Channel has appeared at Southampton Magistrates Court charged with breaching sanctions.\n\nIndian national Ajay Pant, 38, has been charged with directly or indirectly supplying or delivering by ship prohibited oil or oil products from Russia to a third country in June 2026, in contravention of Regulation 46Z9B of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nPant appeared at Court One of Southampton Magistrates Court on a videolink from Bournemouth Police station, where he was sitting next to his solicitor wearing a grey T-shirt.\n\nThe Indian national spoke in English to confirm his name, date of birth, and provided an Indian address.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nPant gave no indication to his plea during the short hearing.\n\nSouthampton Magistrates' Court heard a ‘substantial amount of oil was found’ on board the MV Smyrtos seized by the Royal Marines and the NCA on Sunday.\n\nThey found 98,000 tonnes of oil onboard the tanker, described as having a ‘very significant’ value by prosecutor Varun Chuni.\n\nThe vessel entered UK waters ‘without a legitimate flag’ on the 13th June off the coast of Margate, the Prosecution told the court.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAuthorities had been tracking the Cameroon-flagged vessel since it departed Russian waters earlier this month.\n\nPant was remanded into custody and will next appear at Bournemouth Crown Court for a preparation hearing on July 16.\n\nThe offence of which Pant is accused carries a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Man suspected of captaining intercepted Russian shadow fleet tanker appears in court"
}