Arrest made after seizure of Russian oil tanker in Channel
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<figure><img src="https://static.files.bbci.co.uk/bbcdotcom/web/20260609-143108-fe43574f32-web-3.9.0-5/grey-placeholder.png" /><img src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6678/live/15fbb590-6861-11f1-a6ec-e194b1c99f11.jpg.webp" />UK MOD</figure>
<p>National Crime Agency (NCA) officers have arrested an Indian national on suspicion of sanctions offences after the dramatic seizure of a Russian oil tanker in the English Channel on Sunday.</p>
<p>He was taken into custody for questioning by investigators following the operation mounted by Royal Marine Commandos along with the NCA.</p>
<p>The NCA said 24 Georgian and Indian crew members remained aboard the Smyrtos, anchored off the Dorset coast.</p>
<p>Sunday&#8217;s operation, which saw commandos fast-roping from a helicopter on to the tanker, was the first of its kind carried out by UK armed forces.</p>
<p>Russia uses hundreds of oil tankers sanctioned by the UK and other Western states over its invasion of Ukraine.</p>
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<p>British sanctions ban vessels from this &#8220;shadow fleet&#8221;, as it is known in the West, from entering UK ports and also prohibit British firms and individuals from providing financial, insurance or brokerage services to ships that supply or deliver Russian oil.</p>
<p>The Ministry of Defence (MoD) says the UK has sanctioned more than 500 such ships.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced in March that British armed forces were &#8220;now able to board sanctioned vessels that are passing through our waters&#8221;.</p>
<p>On Sunday he said: &#8220;This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling [Russian President Vladimir] Putin&#8217;s war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide.&#8221;</p>
<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the UK for taking an &#8220;important step against Russia&#8217;s oil fleet&#8221;.</p>
<p>There was no immediate response from Moscow, which has previously described similar interceptions as illegal and &#8220;bordering on international piracy&#8221;.</p>
<p>According to tracking website MarineTraffic, Smyrtos sails under a Cameroon flag.</p>
<p>It began its journey on 5 June from Russia&#8217;s Ust-Luga port, an oil terminal near St Petersburg, before crossing west into the channel on Saturday, BBC Verify has found.</p>
<p>The vessel was sanctioned in July 2025 and has since changed its name from Myrtos to Smyrtos as well as the flag it sails under twice.</p>
<p>The MoD said the operation had happened in international waters as it was more than 12 nautical miles from the UK coast.</p>
<p>It said it had been in full compliance with both domestic and international law.</p>
<p>The interception was the result of weeks of military and political planning, an MoD spokesman said.</p>
<p>It was conducted in close co-ordination with the French, the MoD said, building on recent support provided by the UK to its allies.</p>
<p>French President Emmanuel Macron said on 1 June that his country&#8217;s military had intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker suspected of being part of the &#8220;shadow fleet&#8221; with UK support.</p>
<p>A British helicopter provided support during that operation, the MoD told the BBC.</p>

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