British Royal Marines and specially trained law enforcement officers board the Russian “shadow fleet” tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel during an operation described as the first of its kind for the UK. Reports say Royal Marine commandos carry out the boarding as part of a six-hour mission in the early hours of Sunday. The tanker is identified across outlets as a sanctioned vessel linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, which is used to evade sanctions by transporting oil through unconventional means.
According to the accounts provided, the operation involves coordinated use of aircraft, including helicopters, to support the interception and help take control of the ship. One outlet says the National Crime Agency officers are among those participating alongside the Royal Marines, while another describes the raid as involving specially trained law enforcement personnel.
No detailed information is included in the supplied summaries about arrests, casualties, or the immediate legal process that follows the boarding. The reporting emphasizes the size and novelty of the operation, including that it is presented as a first UK deployment targeting a vessel in the shadow fleet in the Channel.
