- U.S. European Command said the Bella 1 tanker was seized in the North Atlantic under a federal court warrant for violating U.S. sanctions after being tracked by USCGC Munro.
- The Department of War supported the Justice Department and DHS in the operation, which officials said enforces U.S. policy against sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments.
U.S. European Command has confirmed that U.S. agencies, supported by the U.S. Department of War, seized the Russia-flagged crude-oil tanker Marinera — formerly Bella 1 — in the North Atlantic following a federal warrant issued for violations of U.S. sanctions.
According to a statement from U.S. European Command, the operation was carried out by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, with the U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Munro tracking the vessel prior to the boarding action. The tanker, formerly known as Marinera, had been under pursuit for more than two weeks after departing Venezuelan waters.
As noted by U.S. European Command, “the vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro.” The command said the action supports the President’s proclamation targeting sanctioned vessels linked to illicit Venezuelan oil exports.
Reuters reported that Russian naval vessels and a submarine were near the tanker during the seizure but did not intervene, despite earlier Russian media claims that the ship would be protected as it moved toward Europe. The tanker was most recently tracked northwest of Ireland before U.S. forces moved in.
U.S. authorities say the tanker was operating in violation of sanctions linked to Iranian-origin Venezuelan crude oil and was renamed, re-flagged, and routed through remote shipping lanes in an attempt to evade detection. The Justice Department stated that the seizure is part of a broader enforcement effort against ships facilitating what it described as illicit energy shipments.
In the command’s statement, U.S. European Command said the operation “showcases a whole-of-government approach to protect the homeland.” No casualties or confrontations were reported, and the vessel is now under U.S. control.
U.S. Secretary of the Department of War Pete Hegseth stated: “The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world.”