The captain of the Russian shadow fleet vessel boarded by Royal Marines over the weekend has been charged with contravening sanctions. Commandos stormed aboard the Cameroonian-flagged vessel, named the Smyrtos, on Sunday morning. They were joined by officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA), who arrested Ajay Pant, the 38-year-old captain. Pant was charged with contravening Reg 46Z9B Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and directly or indirectly supplying or delivering by ship prohibited oil or oil products from Russia to a third country during June 2026. He will appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. According to part nine of the 2019 regulations, someone who commits a trade offence such as the one Pant is accused of could face up to ten years in prison, a fine or both.The NCA said that the 24 Georgian and Indian crew remained onboard and were 'assisting the investigation'.The daring six-hour raid ordered by Sir Keir Starmer, was praised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as 'an important step against Russia's oil fleet'. The Smyrtos had been at sea for nine days after leaving the port of Ust Luga near St Petersburg on June 5 laden with crude. Video shows helicopters intercepting the Smyrtos in the first operation of its kind, with forces 'fast-roping' down on to the vesselAnd early on Sunday morning, an RAF Poseidon P-8 was cleared for take-off from RAF Lossiemouth, in Scotland, towards the Channel.Already on station were the Royal Navy's HMS Sutherland and HMS Ledbury acting as a 'surface screen' around the 801ft-long tanker.Chinook, Wildcat and Merlin helicopters carrying Special Boat Service (SBS) and 42 Commando troops took off from an undisclosed location in the South West where final rehearsals for the raid had taken place.The Daily Mail understands the SBS, equipped with Canadian C8 assault rifles and night vision goggles were the first to approach the Smyrtos, their Chinook hovering in the darkness over the tanker's 138ft-wide hull.After fast-roping on to the ship, their role was to secure it. Moving tactically and with their rifles pulled tight into their shoulders, the troops raced to the bridge to neutralise any threat posed by her captain and crew.They were followed by Royal Marines from 42 Commando whose responsibilities included searching the ship and protecting the NCA officers who do not carry weapons.Commandos captured 25 crew members on board the vessel. Royal Marines commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Tom Quinn said crew on the ship did not pose any resistance to the take over, The Sun reported.Ministry of Defence footage showed Commandos moving in formation down staircases and from room to room and guarding NCA officers as they studied documentation aboard. After the raid, Sir Keir immediately went on social media to praise the operation while the MoD flooded social media with footage. The Ministry of Defence said Royal Marines commandos and National Crime Agency officers were involved in the operationHeavily-armed personnel are seen taking control and checking through paperwork on the bridge And in his first statement as Defence Secretary, Dan Jarvis said the UK's interdiction of the vessel 'deals another blow to Putin'.He told MPs: 'We do not seek escalation, but we will always take the necessary steps to enforce UK sanctions.'The UK has sanctioned over 550 Russian shadow fleet vessels, this has had a material impact.'Nearly 200 have been forced to anchor because of the action of the UK and our partners, and yesterday's operation sends a clear signal to Russia that the UK and its allies can and will act against the Russian war machine.'He was joined on the frontbench by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who he said is 'someone who cares very deeply about our national security, and that is why she is here to lend that support'.Meanwhile the Smyrtos was steered towards Portland where she is expected to remain pending investigations. The tanker has been subject to UK sanctions since 2025.The intervention seemingly convinced three other shadow fleet vessels to abandon their passage through the Channel. The MoD said the CMR Smyrtos has been sailing under a false Cameroonian flagKeir Starmer insisted the six-hour operation was carried out in 'close coordination' with the French, was 'successful' and 'reminds Russia' that the UK is prepared to act Putin uses so-called shadow fleet tankers to evade sanctions on Russian energy products and generate revenue for his illegal occupation of Ukraine and threats to the UK and Europe.His armada of 700 poorly maintained vessels sail under different flags. These tankers transport an estimated 75 per cent of Russia's sanctioned crude oil, bypassing sanctions and maritime regulations and generating billions for Putin's war coffers. Due to their disrepair the ships also pose a major environmental threat.In recent weeks the UK has played a supportive role in similar French-led operations but Sunday's raid represents the UK's first clamp down on the Kremlin's illegal trade. More to follow.