The vessel SMYRTOS was boarded ​by Royal Marine Commandos ​and specially trained law enforcement officers ⁠from the National Crime ​Agency, Britain’s Ministry of Defence said ​in a statement.

The vessel will be held and monitored off the south coast ​as investigations continue, the ​statement said, adding that enforcement action in ‌Britain’s ⁠territorial waters was carried out in accordance with domestic and international law.

British Prime Minister Kier Starmer ​said that ​he ⁠had directed the interception.

“This successful operation delivers yet another ​blow to Russia and ​reminds ⁠those fuelling Putin’s war in Ukraine that we will not let ⁠them ​hide,” Starmer said ​in a post on X.