The United States has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela in the North Atlantic after a dramatic weeks-long pursuit.
The vessel, originally named Bella-1 and later re-registered as Marinera, was intercepted under a federal court warrant for violating US sanctions.
The operation was carried out jointly by the US Coast Guard and military forces, with critical support from the United Kingdom. British airbases served as launchpads for boarding attempts, while Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft tracked the tanker’s movements between Iceland and the UK.
US officials revealed that the tanker had repeatedly evaded a maritime blockade, refused boarding requests, and attempted to avoid interdiction by changing flags and registration. Russian naval assets, including submarines and warships, were reported near the vessel’s route, raising fears of escalation.
The seizure comes days after US special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, transferring him to US custody on alleged drug trafficking charges. Venezuelan officials condemned the move as a kidnapping, accusing Washington of seeking control over the country’s vast oil reserves.
President Donald Trump announced that Venezuela’s interim government would transfer 30–50 million barrels of oil to the US, with proceeds directly controlled by his administration.
