{"id":33525,"date":"2026-01-08T07:09:58","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T05:09:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=33525"},"modified":"2026-01-08T07:13:19","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T05:13:19","slug":"us-seizes-venezuela-linked-russian-oil-tanker-for-violating-sanctions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/us-seizes-venezuela-linked-russian-oil-tanker-for-violating-sanctions\/","title":{"rendered":"US seizes Venezuela-linked Russian oil tanker for violating sanctions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

6 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuelan oil exports following a weeks-long pursuit across the Atlantic Ocean. The seizure has drawn sharp condemnation from Russia.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. officials said the tanker, Marinera, was captured on January 7, 2025, for violations of U.S. sanctions. Washington has intensified efforts to choke off Venezuela\u2019s oil trade, particularly after the U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The seizure appeared to be the first known instance in recent memory of the U.S. military commandeering a Russian-flagged vessel on the high seas. The operation has drawn a sharp diplomatic response from Moscow, which accused Washington of violating international maritime law and freedom of navigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to U.S. officials, American forces had been tracking and pursuing the Marinera for more than two weeks as part of a broader maritime operation targeting sanctioned oil shipments connected to Venezuela.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tanker, formerly known as Bella-1, had slipped through a U.S.-led maritime \u201cblockade\u201d of vessels carrying Venezuelan oil and repeatedly rebuffed attempts by the U.S. Coast Guard to board it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. military\u2019s European Command said the tanker was seized on Wednesday \u201cfor violations of U.S. sanctions.\u201d The operation took place in the North Atlantic, beyond the territorial waters of any state. American officials described the vessel as part of a \u201cshadow fleet\u201d used to move oil from sanctioned countries, including Venezuela, Russia, and Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russian state broadcaster RT reported that U.S. forces boarded the tanker from a helicopter, publishing an image of the aircraft hovering over the ship during the operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RT cited an unnamed source who said a U.S. Coast Guard vessel had been shadowing the Marinera for days, and that at least one earlier attempt to seize the ship had been made during stormy conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a pre-dawn action this morning, the Department of War, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker without incident.

The interdicted vessel, M\/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/JQm9gHprPk<\/a><\/p>— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) January 7, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>