U.S. military and law enforcement authorities on Wednesday intercepted and seized two sanctioned oil tankers in separate operations across the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean, intensifying enforcement of Washington’s blockade on illicit Venezuelan oil shipments. The actions form part of a broader effort to curb sanctions evasion and protect regional security in the Western Hemisphere.
In the first operation, U.S. European Command confirmed the seizure of the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera in the North Atlantic. The vessel, previously known as Bella 1, was taken into custody under a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being closely tracked by the U.S. Coast Guard. Officials said the tanker had spent weeks attempting to evade enforcement while operating in violation of U.S. sanctions linked to Venezuelan oil exports.
The interception followed heightened scrutiny of the tanker’s movements, amid reports that it had been maneuvering to avoid boarding while transiting international waters. U.S. authorities described the operation as a coordinated, whole-of-government effort involving the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of War, underscoring Washington’s resolve to stop sanctioned vessels wherever they operate.
Later the same day, U.S. Southern Command announced a separate pre-dawn operation in the Caribbean, where forces apprehended the M/T Sophia, a stateless tanker described as part of a sanctioned “dark fleet.” The vessel was detained without incident and is being escorted by the U.S. Coast Guard to the United States for further action. U.S. officials said the twin seizures reaffirm that the blockade on sanctioned Venezuelan oil remains fully in force worldwide.
