The United Kingdom and the European Union have announced coordinated sanctions against prominent Pakistani oil trader Murtaza Ali Lakhani and several associated entities. The move targets what officials describe as a “shadowy network” used to bypass Western sanctions on Russian crude exports, which fund the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the EU have accused Lakhani, 63, of obtaining benefits from or supporting the Government of Russia. According to the EU’s Official Journal, Lakhani, as CEO of the Mercantile & Maritime (M&M) Group, allegedly controls a fleet of vessels transporting petroleum products originating from the Russian state-owned giant, Rosneft.
UK sanctions oil trading tycoon Murtaza Lakhani for his alleged role in Russian energy sector
Lakhani is a prominent Pakistani businessman who long used London as a key base and is well-connected in UK political circles. He made a name as a savvy operatorhttps://t.co/zSXhfSl2Bq
— Faseeh Mangi (@FaseehMangi) December 18, 2025
The sanctions package targets several entities linked to Lakhani, including:
- Tejarinaft FZCO (renamed Nexus Oil Trading)
- Fossil Trading
- Amur II (Dubai-based)
- Mercantile & Maritime Group (UAE-registered)
These measures prohibit EU and UK citizens and businesses from engaging with the listed individuals and companies, effectively severing their access to critical international shipping and insurance providers.
UK Sanctions Minister Stephen Doughty emphasized the strategic goal of the designation: “Our message is clear – the UK will not rest until Putin ends the bloodshed. Today’s measures target billionaire oil tycoon Murtaza Ali Lakhani and companies in his shadowy network that have become some of the largest traders of Russian oil since 2022.”
Lakhani is a well-known figure in British political circles and a former donor to the Conservative Party. His career, which began at Glencore, includes significant roles as an intermediary in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and long-standing ties with Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin. In June 2024, Lakhani publicly defended Russia’s resource dominance, stating that the world “will always need Russia.”
In a statement issued through legal counsel, Mr. Lakhani has strongly denied the allegations, asserting that he does not own or control a “shadow fleet” in breach of sanctions law.
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The statement characterized the designations as “unfounded, unfair, and politically motivated,” confirming that Mr. Lakhani is “immediately pursuing all avenues of legal remedy and redress” to appeal the decisions in both the EU and UK jurisdictions.
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