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U.S. forces captured the tanker Marinera, formerly known as Bella 1, after more than two weeks of pursuit at sea, U.S. government officials confirmed on Tuesday, as reported by Reuters.
The vessel, linked to operations transporting Venezuelan crude under international sanctions, was intercepted in international waters of the Atlantic after evading a maritime blockade imposed by Washington and rejecting multiple boarding attempts by the U.S. Coast Guard.
According to sources, the operation was carried out by combined units of the Coast Guard and U.S. special forces, and concluded with the total control of the ship without any armed confrontation.
During the operation, Russian ships and a submarine were nearby, which increased diplomatic tension between Washington and Moscow.
The Marinera, which had recently changed its flag to the Russian Federation, was identified by U.S. naval intelligence as part of the "shadow fleet" that transports Venezuelan and Iranian oil to evade financial sanctions.
This seizure is the third maritime interdiction operation carried out by the U.S. in the Caribbean and the Atlantic since December, as part of President Donald Trump's campaign to block oil revenues from the Venezuelan regime and cut supply routes involving allies such as Iran and Russia.
So far, U.S. authorities have not reported the final destination of the vessel nor the whereabouts of its crew, who could face charges for violating international sanctions.
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