Avtandil Kalandadze, a Georgian citizen and former captain of the tanker Bella 1, admitted in a Washington federal court to disobeying a US Coast Guard order during an interdiction operation. Kalandadze’s guilty plea is a warning to operators of ghost fleets and those involved in supporting such vessels, according to Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.
Kalandadze, who captained the Bella 1 from September to December 2025, transported approximately 1.8 million barrels of Iranian oil to Asia. Prosecutors revealed that he employed various tactics to conceal the ship’s activities, including disabling its Automatic Identification System and hiding its identity during an oil transfer.
The US Coast Guard intercepted the Bella 1 in December 2025 as it headed towards Venezuela. Despite orders to stop, the tanker evaded capture, leading to a weeks-long pursuit across the Atlantic Ocean. Kalandadze, under the direction of a corporate representative, took steps to avoid interception, ignored law enforcement orders, and destroyed ship records.
US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro condemned Kalandadze for endangering American sailors and Coast Guardsmen by evading sanctions and transporting illicit oil. The captain’s actions not only obstructed law enforcement but also forced a risky boarding operation in challenging sea conditions. Sentencing is set for August 7, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison and subsequent deportation for Kalandadze.
