The United States has captured to Russian-flagged vessels linked to Venezuelan oil in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean.
US forces landed on the Russian-flagged Marinera vessel after pursuing it for more than two weeks as it travelled through the waters between Iceland and Scotland. Video of the operation showed the landing operation. Marinera was sanctioned in 2024 for allegedly smuggling cargo for a company linked to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The vessel’s previous name was Bella 1.
The second vessel, Sophia, was seized by American forces “in international waters near the Caribbean”. It departed from Venezuelan waters in January as part of a fleet of ships illegally carrying Venezuelan oil to China, according to shipping data and sources, the news agency added. The ship was sailing under a Guyana flag when it left the Caribbean but re-registered under a Russian flag.
US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth confirmed the capture of the vessel. "The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in full effect - anywhere in the world,” Hegseth wrote in a post on X.
Moscow has condemned the capture of the tanker sailing under its flag and called on Washington to ensure the fair treatment of the Russian crew and allow their swift return home.
Russia’s transport ministry said the ship had been granted “temporary authorization” to operate under the Russian flag, stressing that no country has the right to use force against vessels legally registered under another state’s jurisdiction.
While earlier reports claimed that Russia had sent a submarine to protect the tanker, US forces ultimately boarded the vessel without encountering any resistance.
The White House, however, said the ship was part of a “Venezuelan shadow fleet,” arguing it was effectively stateless after sailing under a false flag and was subject to a judicial order.
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