Master of Shadow Fleet Tanker Sentenced in D.C. for Evading U.S. Coast Guard During Weeks-Long Pursuit

WASHINGTON - Avtandil Kalandadze, 47, the former ship master of a shadow fleet tanker Bella 1 that historically transported Iran- and Venezuela-origin oil for the ultimate benefit of U.S. adversaries, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 10 months imprisonment in connection with refusing to obey orders from the U.S. Coast Guard during a multi-week pursuit from the Caribbean Sea through to the North Atlantic Ocean, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

"Kalandadze captained a vessel used to conceal illicit oil shipments for U.S. adversaries, and when the Coast Guard ordered him to stop, he fled," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "This case demonstrates that those who try to evade U.S. law enforcement even on the open sea will be held accountable. The ocean does not place anyone beyond our reach."

Kalandadze, of the Republic of Georgia, pleaded guilty on June 12 before Judge Beryl A. Howell to one count of failing to heave to a Coast Guard cutter. Kalandadze will be deported at the completion of his 10-month prison term.

According to the plea agreement, from September 2025 until late December 2025, Kalandadze was the Master of the Motor Tanker Bella 1. During his time as Master, the Bella 1 transported approximately 1.8 million barrels of Iran-origin oil to Asia. During this time, Kalandadze employed common obfuscation techniques to hide the activities of the Bella 1, including sailing with an inactivated Automatic Identification System (AIS) and concealing the name of the Bella 1 while engaging in a ship-to-ship transfer of the Iran-origin oil to another vessel.

In December 2025, while under his charge, the Bella 1 was en route to Venezuela when it was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro. The Bella 1 failed to comply with the Coast Guard's order to heave to and fled across the Atlantic Ocean. The Munro pursued the Bella 1 throughout its flight and, on Jan. 7, aided in the execution of a lawful seizure of the vessel.

During the flight and at the direction of a corporate representative of the operator, Kalandadze took multiple steps to avoid the Coast Guard interdiction, including disobeying multiple orders by authorized federal law enforcement officers to heave to for the U.S. Coast Guard's Munro and destroying records and information on board the Bella 1.

This case is being investigated by HSI and the FBI. Significant assistance on this matter was provided by the Department of Justice's Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and the Office of International Affairs. The Department extends its gratitude to the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Department of War for their bravery, dedication, and assistance on this matter.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher T. Tortorice, Rajbir Datta, and Jonathan Hornok for the District of Columbia and Acting Deputy Chief Sean R. Heiden of the Department of Justice's National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

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