According to information obtained from the U.S. European Command, the seizure of the tanker occurred in the North Atlantic based on a federal court warrant. The operation was conducted jointly by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, with support from the Coast Guard.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegset emphasized that the blockade of sanctioned oil from Venezuela continues to be fully enforced worldwide, linking this to a broader strategy of pressure on Caracas.
According to Reuters, the operation was carried out by Coast Guard forces with support from naval forces. The Wall Street Journal reported that Russian military ships, including submarines, were present in the area, which increased the risks of escalating conflict.
Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson reported that U.S. forces conducted a boarding of the tanker between Iceland and the British Isles before Russian vessels arrived.
During the pursuit, Marinera attempted to conceal its route, as evidenced by disruptions in its AIS signal and sharp course changes. The vessel had previously refused to comply with U.S. Coast Guard demands for inspection, changed its name, and began flying under a Russian flag.
Additionally, U.S. Southern Command reported the detention of another tanker - M/T Sophia, which, according to U.S. authorities, was operating without a flag and engaging in illegal activities in international waters of the Caribbean Sea. The operation was conducted without incident, and the tanker is heading to the U.S. for further investigation.
U.S. military officials noted that these actions are part of the "Southern Cross" campaign aimed at preventing illegal maritime activities in the Western Hemisphere.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen stated that the Coast Guard boarded two tankers of the "shadow fleet" during two operations at dawn - one in the North Atlantic and the other in the Caribbean basin. She added that both vessels, Bella 1 and Sophia, had either previously been in Venezuela or were headed there.
U.S. authorities emphasize that actions against these vessels align with the strategy of the Donald Trump administration to strengthen control over the export of Venezuelan oil in circumvention of sanctions.
