United States forces have seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic following a weeks-long chase after the vessel broke away from an attempted US naval blockade near Venezuela, multiple news outlets report.
The tanker, now registered as the Marinera and formerly known as Bella 1, was tracked across the Atlantic and intercepted under a federal court warrant for alleged violations of US sanctions related to transporting oil tied to Venezuela, Iran and other sanctioned entities. According to tracking data, the ship had reached waters near Iceland’s exclusive economic zone as US authorities moved to board it.
The operation marked a major escalation in Washington’s efforts to enforce sanctions, with the Coast Guard and other US military assets conducting the interception. The seizure follows renewed pressure on Venezuelan oil exports by the Biden administration, which has targeted vessels suspected of evading sanctions.
Earlier in the standoff, Russia was reported to have dispatched a submarine and additional naval vessels in a bid to escort the tanker while it made its way northward, drawing concern from Moscow and adding to geopolitical tensions with Washington.The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was “following with concern” the US pursuit, asserting that the ship was operating in international waters under its flag.
The Marinera had previously evaded a US Coast Guard boarding attempt near Venezuelan waters in late December before altering course toward the Atlantic, and its crew reportedly repainted the vessel’s hull and formally re-registered it under Russia.
The incident comes amid broader tensions involving sanctions enforcement, maritime law, and complex diplomatic relations between the United States, Russia and Venezuela.
