The NCA arrested an Indian national after Royal Marine Commandos boarded the sanctioned oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel. Twenty-four Georgian and Indian crew remain aboard; the ship, flying a Cameroon flag, left Ust-Luga on 5 June and was sanctioned in July 2025. The MoD said the boarding — the first of its kind by UK forces using helicopter fast-roping — occurred in international waters, was conducted in coordination with France, and complied with domestic and international law.
UK Seizes Sanctioned Tanker Smyrtos in English Channel — One Arrested
British National Crime Agency (NCA) officers have arrested an Indian national on suspicion of sanctions offences after Royal Marine Commandos boarded the Russian-linked oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel on Sunday.
The individual was taken into custody for questioning following a joint operation involving Royal Marines and the NCA. Authorities said 24 crew members, a mix of Georgian and Indian nationals, remained on board the vessel, which was anchored off the Dorset coast.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) described the boarding as notable for its use of commandos fast-roping from a helicopter onto the tanker — a tactic the MoD said was the first of its kind carried out by UK armed forces in this context.
What Happened
According to tracking data from MarineTraffic, the Smyrtos was sailing under a Cameroon flag. The ship began its voyage on 5 June from Ust-Luga, an oil terminal near St Petersburg, before turning west into the Channel on Saturday. The MoD said the vessel was sanctioned in July 2025 and has since changed its name (from Myrtos) and flags multiple times.
Legal and International Context
The UK and other Western states have imposed sanctions on hundreds of Russian-owned oil tankers since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. British measures bar vessels in the so-called "shadow fleet" from entering UK ports and prohibit UK companies and individuals from providing financial, insurance or brokerage services to ships moving Russian oil. The MoD says the UK has sanctioned more than 500 such vessels.
Officials emphasised the boarding took place in international waters, more than 12 nautical miles from the UK coast, and said the operation complied with domestic and international law. An MoD spokesman said the interception followed weeks of military and political planning and was carried out in close coordination with French authorities.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the UK, calling the move an "important step against Russia's oil fleet." There was no immediate response from Moscow; Russia has previously described similar interceptions as illegal and "bordering on international piracy."
Background
The MoD also noted recent cooperation with France. French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier that French forces had intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker believed to be part of the shadow fleet, with UK support — including a British helicopter during that operation.
Next steps: Investigators will continue questioning the arrested suspect and process any legal actions related to alleged sanctions breaches as inquiries proceed.
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