US Seizes Two Venezuela-Linked Oil Tankers

US military and Coast Guard forces have seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela as part of an escalating campaign to enforce sanctions and curb illicit shipments of crude, officials said Wednesday.

One of the vessels, the Marinera, formerly named Bella 1, was intercepted in the North Atlantic Ocean after evading US authorities for more than two weeks and attempting to breach a US maritime blockade. The ship had been flagged to Russia and was being tracked by surveillance aircraft before the operation.

High-Seas Operations

US Homeland Security tactical teams, working with the Departments of War, Justice and State, conducted boardings of both vessels within hours of each other, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said.

The second tanker, identified as Sophia, was seized in international waters in the Caribbean Sea. Authorities described it as part of a “dark fleet” of stateless vessels transporting oil in contravention of US sanctions.

The Marinera had previously been sanctioned by the United States was believed to have been carrying illegal cargo for a company allegedly owned by Hezbollah. It was being monitored by US and allied reconnaissance aircraft after refusing earlier attempts by the US Coast Guard to board it in Venezuelan waters.

Strategic Enforcement

The operation reflects an aggressive enforcement of sanctions targeting Venezuela’s oil exports and vessels operating outside international rules, amid broader US efforts to control sanctioned oil flows and pressure Caracas and its partners.

British Defence Secretary John Healey said the action also struck at a “Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion”, signalling international cooperation against illicit oil trafficking.

International Reaction

Russia’s Transport Ministry and lawmakers condemned the seizure of the Russian-flagged Marinera, calling it a breach of maritime law and “outright piracy”. Moscow has demanded humane treatment and repatriation of the crew.

The dual seizures come as part of US President Donald Trump’s intensified campaign to enforce economic pressure on Venezuela and its allies, following other recent high-profile actions against sanctioned vessels and entities.

Broader Implications

Analysts say these developments could further complicate geopolitical tensions involving Washington, Caracas, Moscow and Tehran, as global powers react to the expanding scope of US sanctions enforcement on international waters.

The seized tankers are now under US control as legal proceedings and sanctions compliance assessments proceed, underscoring the administration’s readiness to use maritime power to uphold sanctions policies.

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