US Seizes Russian-Flagged Oil Tanker Linked to Venezuela After Prolonged Pursuit

The United States has seized the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera, formerly known as Bella-1, in the North Atlantic for alleged violations of U.S. sanctions related to Venezuela. The operation, conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard with military support, concluded a weeks-long pursuit of the vessel.

The Marinera had been under U.S. sanctions since 2024 for allegedly smuggling cargo for a company linked to Hezbollah. In December, the U.S. Coast Guard attempted to board the tanker in the Caribbean as it headed for Venezuela, but the vessel refused and altered its course across the Atlantic. During this period, the ship was renamed Marinera and reflagged under the Russian flag.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the ongoing enforcement of sanctions, stating,

Russia's Ministry of Transport condemned the seizure, asserting that the U.S. action violated international maritime law. The ministry highlighted that the Marinera was operating in international waters under the Russian flag and called for respect of the vessel's right to freedom of navigation.

This seizure is part of a broader U.S. initiative to enforce sanctions against Venezuela and disrupt illicit oil trade. In a separate operation, U.S. forces also seized the Panama-flagged supertanker M Sophia in the Caribbean, which was under U.S. sanctions for transporting Venezuelan oil.