Former Oil Tanker Captain Pleads Guilty to Coast Guard Charges
The ex-captain of an oil tanker under sanctions has admitted guilt for defying orders from the U.S. Coast Guard while evading capture across the Atlantic. Avtandir Karandadze, 47, a citizen of Georgia, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell, facing one count of failing to deliver a vessel to a Coast Guard cutter. He’s set for sentencing on August 7, with a potential sentence of up to five years in prison, followed by deportation.
A federal plea agreement reveals that Karandadze led the Bela 1 tanker from September to December 2025, during which it transported around 1.8 million barrels of Iranian crude oil to Asia. To evade detection, he turned off the ship’s tracking transponder and disguised its name while transferring cargo to another vessel at sea.
In December 2025, the Coast Guard Cutter Munro intercepted the Vera 1 as it headed towards Venezuela; however, the tanker disregarded the Coast Guard’s orders and continued across the Atlantic. Karandadze was noted to have destroyed onboard documents and ignored directives from company leadership. Ultimately, the vessel was captured on January 7.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg emphasized the plea as a cautionary message to the network behind such operations. He stated that Karandadze’s admission should alert owners and operators of these ghost fleets, insisting that the DOJ, along with partners, will track these vessels anywhere, from the Caribbean to the North Atlantic.
Post-escape, the tanker reportedly took on a new identity, rebranding itself as Marinella, and displayed a Russian flag. The U.S. military apprehended it approximately 190 miles off Iceland’s coast, amid claims of Russian submarines escorting ships heading to Europe.
A February indictment charged the captain with hoisting a fake Guyanese flag during a December intercept and failing to comply with Coast Guard orders. This represents the first criminal action amid the Trump administration’s efforts against Venezuelan oil movements.
The term “Shadow Fleet” refers to a group of older tankers that illegally transport oil for sanctioned nations like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela while eluding Western scrutiny. These ships are known to deactivate tracking systems and frequently transfer cargo at sea to obscure the origins of their shipments.
On January 26, a Scottish court issued a temporary order preventing Karandadze’s removal from British jurisdiction pending a review of his detention. However, it rescinded this ruling soon after learning he had already been transferred aboard the Munro and left UK territorial waters. His attorney claimed that he was effectively “abducted” by U.S. authorities while still in what was considered Scottish and British territory.
