US Seizes Russian Tanker Carrying Venezuelan Oil
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Caracas
- Jan 07, 2026
- 17
In a dramatic escalation of its sanctions enforcement campaign, the United States on Wednesday seized two oil tankers allegedly transporting Venezuelan crude in violation of international sanctions, including a Russian-flagged vessel, in coordinated maritime operations across the North Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea.
According to reports by Russian state-linked media outlet Russia Today, one of the seized vessels is the Russian-registered tanker Marinera, while the second ship, named Sofia, sails under the Panamanian flag, though its ownership remains unclear. The two seizures reportedly occurred within hours of each other, underscoring the intensity of the US operation.
The Marinera was intercepted in the North Atlantic, while Sofia was seized in the Caribbean Sea. Russian naval assets, including submarines and surface vessels, were reportedly deployed to monitor the situation and protect the tanker. However, no direct military confrontation took place, and US forces successfully boarded and took control of the vessel.
Weeks-Long Pursuit and Sanctions Allegations
US forces had been tracking the Marinera for nearly two weeks, suspecting it of transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela, potentially destined for China or other third-country buyers. American officials alleged that the tanker was part of a wider network designed to evade US-led sanctions on Venezuela’s oil exports.
The ship has a complex operational history. Previously known as Bella-1, it was placed on a US sanctions blacklist and accused of carrying Iranian oil in breach of restrictions. In December 2025, as the vessel attempted to reach Venezuelan ports, the US Coast Guard sought to seize it under a judicial warrant.
At that time, the ship avoided capture through what US officials described as deliberate evasive maneuvers by its crew. It later re-registered under the Guyanese flag, before being renamed Marinera and eventually re-flagged under Russia’s national registry, receiving temporary authorization to sail as a Russian vessel on December 24.
Surveillance, Interception, and Boarding
Despite attempts to alter course and evade detection—reportedly to avoid a suspected US naval blockade—the tanker remained under constant aerial and maritime surveillance by the United States and its allies, including Britain. The US Coast Guard cutter USCGC Munro ultimately intercepted the vessel and carried out the seizure.
Russian media released images showing helicopters hovering near the ship at the time of the boarding, though both sides refrained from escalation.
Russia Condemns Action as Illegal
Moscow swiftly condemned the seizure. The Russian Transport Ministry declared that no country has the legal authority to use force against a vessel lawfully registered under another nation’s flag.
According to the ministry, communication with the Marinera was abruptly cut off shortly after US forces boarded the ship at approximately 3 p.m. Moscow time. Russian officials reiterated that the tanker had been granted temporary clearance to operate under the Russian flag just days earlier.
Shadow Fleet and Global Sanctions Crackdown
The seizures are part of a broader US campaign targeting what is known as the “shadow fleet”—a network of tankers that transport sanctioned oil by concealing their identities, switching flags, disabling tracking transponders, or operating in so-called “dark mode.”
In December 2025, US President Donald Trump intensified pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by imposing a maritime blockade on vessels suspected of evading sanctions. The move aimed to restrict oil revenues and compel Caracas to accept US political and economic conditions, including opening its energy sector to American companies.
Due to these sanctions, Venezuela and its buyers—most notably China—have increasingly relied on clandestine shipping operations to keep oil flowing.
British Support Confirmed
Britain confirmed its role in the operation. The UK Ministry of Defence stated that British aircraft provided surveillance and logistical support during the seizure.
British Defence Secretary John Healey, writing on social media platform X, said the operation targeted vessels engaged in systematic sanctions evasion. He described Bella-1—the tanker’s former identity—as part of a Russia-Iran network fueling global instability.
Healey vowed continued action against what he termed “illegal maritime activities” to safeguard international security, economic stability, and the rules-based global order.