The United States seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic this week while also intercepting a separate stateless “dark fleet” vessel tied to Venezuelan oil exports, US officials said, marking a significant escalation in Washington’s enforcement campaign against sanctioned energy shipments.
According to US officials, the Russian-flagged tanker Marinera, previously known as Bella-1, was seized on Wednesday near Iceland after being tracked for more than two weeks across the Atlantic, reports Reuters. The operation occurred as Russian military assets, including a submarine, were operating in the general area, though officials said there were no signs of confrontation.
In a post on X, US European Command said the tanker was seized for violating US sanctions. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded, writing, “The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world.”
Two US officials said the operation was carried out by the US Coast Guard with support from the US military. The Coast Guard declined to comment. Russian officials have not issued a response, though Russian state media outlet RT published an image showing a helicopter hovering near the ship.
The Marinera had previously evaded US enforcement efforts in the Caribbean and refused boarding attempts. After those encounters, it re-registered under a Russian flag and changed its name, officials said. Sources indicated the vessel may now be heading toward British territorial waters, though its final destination has not been confirmed. The UK Ministry of Defence declined to comment.
Separately, US Southern Command confirmed that the Coast Guard intercepted another tanker, the Panama-flagged M/T Sophia, in Latin American waters early Wednesday. The vessel was described as a “stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker” linked to Venezuelan oil shipments.
“The US Coast Guard is escorting M/T Sophia to the US for final disposition,” Southern Command said in a statement.
Shipping data and sources indicate the Sophia departed Venezuelan waters earlier this month as part of a group of tankers transporting oil toward China with transponders turned off. Analysts say such “dark mode” operations are commonly used to evade sanctions.
The seizures come days after US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a military operation in Caracas and amid an intensified US effort to block Venezuelan oil exports.
President Donald Trump has accused Venezuela of stealing US oil through decades of nationalization and has demanded that interim authorities open the country’s energy sector to American companies. Venezuelan officials, in turn, have accused the US of attempting to seize the nation’s oil reserves.
Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, but millions of barrels remain stranded on tankers and in storage due to the US export blockade imposed in mid-December. Trump said Tuesday that Washington and Caracas reached a deal allowing up to $2 billion in Venezuelan crude to be shipped to the US, potentially diverting supplies from China.
According to US officials, the Russian-flagged tanker Marinera, previously known as Bella-1, was seized on Wednesday near Iceland after being tracked for more than two weeks across the Atlantic, reports Reuters. The operation occurred as Russian military assets, including a submarine, were operating in the general area, though officials said there were no signs of confrontation.
In a post on X, US European Command said the tanker was seized for violating US sanctions. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded, writing, “The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world.”
Two US officials said the operation was carried out by the US Coast Guard with support from the US military. The Coast Guard declined to comment. Russian officials have not issued a response, though Russian state media outlet RT published an image showing a helicopter hovering near the ship.
The Marinera had previously evaded US enforcement efforts in the Caribbean and refused boarding attempts. After those encounters, it re-registered under a Russian flag and changed its name, officials said. Sources indicated the vessel may now be heading toward British territorial waters, though its final destination has not been confirmed. The UK Ministry of Defence declined to comment.
Separately, US Southern Command confirmed that the Coast Guard intercepted another tanker, the Panama-flagged M/T Sophia, in Latin American waters early Wednesday. The vessel was described as a “stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker” linked to Venezuelan oil shipments.
“The US Coast Guard is escorting M/T Sophia to the US for final disposition,” Southern Command said in a statement.
Shipping data and sources indicate the Sophia departed Venezuelan waters earlier this month as part of a group of tankers transporting oil toward China with transponders turned off. Analysts say such “dark mode” operations are commonly used to evade sanctions.
The seizures come days after US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a military operation in Caracas and amid an intensified US effort to block Venezuelan oil exports.
President Donald Trump has accused Venezuela of stealing US oil through decades of nationalization and has demanded that interim authorities open the country’s energy sector to American companies. Venezuelan officials, in turn, have accused the US of attempting to seize the nation’s oil reserves.
Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, but millions of barrels remain stranded on tankers and in storage due to the US export blockade imposed in mid-December. Trump said Tuesday that Washington and Caracas reached a deal allowing up to $2 billion in Venezuelan crude to be shipped to the US, potentially diverting supplies from China.
