The tanker, originally known as Bella 1, was intercepted in the North Atlantic based on a court order issued by a federal court in the USA. The US Coast Guard vessel USCGC Munro tracked it before the seizure, as reported by the US European Command.
The US Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, in cooperation with the Department of Defense, announced the seizure of the vessel. "This operation is being conducted under a presidential directive aimed at vessels that violate US sanctions and threaten the security of the Western Hemisphere," the military noted.
"The blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil continues to operate anywhere in the world," added Pentagon chief Pete Hegset in his post on X.
At the same time, the US Southern Command reported the detention of another tanker from the "shadow fleet" in the Caribbean Sea. The vessel named Sophia had no registered nationality and was also under US sanctions.
Several media outlets, including Reuters, CBS, and CNN, previously reported on the beginning of the seizure of the tanker Marinera, which was sailing under the Russian flag.
The tanker, which changed its flag from Guyana to Russian, has been under the attention of the US Coast Guard since the start of the pressure campaign against Venezuela initiated by President Trump.
The Russian Ministry of Transport stated in its announcement that the actions of the USA are illegal.
"According to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation applies on the high seas, and no state has the right to use force against vessels registered in other jurisdictions," the department stated.
They also reported that the vessel received temporary permission to sail under the Russian flag on December 24, 2025.
The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that there are Russian citizens on board the Marinera and urged the USA not to interfere with their return to their homeland. Moscow also demanded that Washington ensure humane treatment of the crew.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt stated that the court ruling allowing the seizure of the Marinera also applies to its crew, implying the possibility of their being brought to the USA for prosecution.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Moscow has sent naval escort assets, including a submarine of unspecified type, to the Marinera tanker.
According to US data, the tanker, which was empty, had previously been used to transport Venezuelan oil and was located between Scotland and Iceland on January 6.
Before any military operation on British territory, Washington is required to notify its ally.
The UK Ministry of Defense confirmed its support for the USA in the operation to seize the tanker in the Atlantic on Wednesday and promised to "continue active actions against the shadow fleet."
"Today, our Armed Forces demonstrated skill and professionalism by supporting the successful detention of the vessel Bella 1 by US forces as it was heading to Russia. This operation is part of global efforts to combat sanctions violations," said UK Defense Minister John Healey.
Earlier, the UK Ministry of Defense stated that it does not comment on the actions of other countries.
In December 2025, US President Donald Trump ordered the imposition of a blockade against oil tankers that are under sanctions heading to or leaving Venezuela.
Before the seizure, Trump repeatedly accused the Venezuelan authorities of using vessels to transport drugs to the USA.
The US Coast Guard had previously attempted to board the tanker Bella 1 in the Caribbean Sea as it was heading to Venezuela. A warrant was issued for the vessel for violating sanctions and transporting Iranian oil.
After that, the tanker abruptly changed course, renamed itself Marinera, and registered under the Russian flag, adding the Russian flag to its side.
The arrival of the tanker in Europe coincided with the presence of about 10 US military transport aircraft and helicopters in the region.
Two US officials told CBS News that the US Navy plans to board the vessel, preferring to seize it rather than sink it.
American sources suggested that the seizure operation would be similar to a previous one, where the US Marine Corps and special forces, together with the Coast Guard, seized the tanker The Skipper, which also violated sanctions, after leaving a Venezuelan port.
Russia expressed concern over the situation with the Marinera tanker. According to several American sources cited by WSJ, Moscow urged Washington to stop pursuing the vessel.
The situation surrounding the tanker unfolds just days after the USA captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. During the operation to extract him, US targets suspected of involvement in arms and drug trafficking were attacked.
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