The United States has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker after pursuing it for more than two weeks across the Atlantic, US officials said on Wednesday. The move forms part of Washington’s effort to block Venezuelan oil exports and marks a rare instance of the US military taking control of a vessel flying the Russian flag.
The tanker, Marinera, was previously known as Bella-1 and had earlier evaded a US maritime blockade in the Caribbean. It also refused attempts by the US Coast Guard to board it last month. The seizure took place in the Atlantic near Iceland and was first reported by Reuters.
US officials said the operation was carried out by the Coast Guard with support from the US military. Special forces helped secure the vessel before handing control to the Coast Guard. Russian military assets, including a submarine, were operating in the wider area, but there were no signs of a direct confrontation.
In a post on X, US European Command said the tanker was seized for violating US sanctions. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil remained “in full effect anywhere in the world”.
Russia’s transport ministry said it lost contact with the tanker after US forces boarded it. A senior Russian lawmaker described the seizure as “outright piracy”, according to state media. It remains unclear where the vessel will be taken, though sources said it may enter British territorial waters.
The operation came days after US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and transferred him to the United States for prosecution on drug-related charges. President Donald Trump has since said Venezuela would turn over up to 50 million barrels of oil as part of new arrangements with Washington.
In a separate action, the US Coast Guard also intercepted another Venezuela-linked tanker, M Sophia, in Latin American waters. The Panama-flagged vessel was described as part of a sanctioned “dark fleet” transporting oil with tracking systems switched off.
US officials say the seizures underline a broader crackdown on tankers used to bypass sanctions imposed on Venezuela since 2019.
