U.S. Plans to Intercept Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil Tanker Marinera

The United States is preparing to intercept the Marinera, a crude oil tanker previously known as the Bella 1, which has been sanctioned by the Treasury Department for its involvement in Venezuelan oil shipments. This operation is part of the U.S. government's ongoing efforts to enforce sanctions against Venezuela.

U.S. forces have been tracking the Marinera since last month, following its departure from a Venezuelan port. The vessel is now sailing under the Russian flag, a change that could complicate diplomatic relations between the United States and Russia. The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping lists the tanker as being ported out of Sochi, on the Black Sea coast.

In recent weeks, the U.S. has intensified its actions against vessels involved in transporting Venezuelan oil. On December 10, 2025, U.S. forces seized the Skipper, a large crude oil tanker, off the coast of Venezuela. The operation was led by the U.S. Coast Guard with support from the Navy. Attorney General Pam Bondi shared a video of the seizure, which showed Coast Guard personnel boarding the vessel from helicopters. The Skipper was reportedly carrying approximately 2 million barrels of Venezuelan heavy crude, with half of the cargo bound for a Cuban state-run importer. The vessel had previously been sanctioned for its alleged involvement in illicit oil shipping activities linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah.

Venezuelan officials have condemned these U.S. actions, describing them as acts of piracy and theft. The Venezuelan government has stated that the true motives behind the U.S. actions are to seize control of Venezuela's natural resources.

The planned interception of the Marinera would mark the third such operation by U.S. forces since early December, as the United States continues to enforce sanctions and disrupt the transportation of Venezuelan oil.