The U.S. on Wednesday seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela, together with the Russian-flagged Marinera oil tanker previously often known as the Bella-1 that had evaded a U.S. blockade back in December.
The Marinera was transiting within the North Atlantic, in keeping with three sources aware of the operation. The operation was being carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard and different navy property, in keeping with one supply. Russian navy vessels have been within the space because the state of affairs unfolded.
In a put up on X, U.S. European Command confirmed the seizure of the tanker within the North Atlantic.
The U.S. on Wednesday additionally seized one other tanker within the Caribbean, in keeping with Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem.
“In two predawn operations in the present day, the Coast Guard carried out back-to-back meticulously coordinated boarding of two ‘ghost fleet’ tanker ships — one within the North Atlantic Sea and one in worldwide waters close to the Caribbean,” Noem mentioned in a put up on X. “Each vessels — the Motor Tanker Bella 1 and the Motor [Tanker] Sophia — have been both final docked in Venezuela or en path to it.”
Video launched by Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem reveals the Motor Tanker Sophia being apprehended in worldwide waters close to the Caribbean, Jan. 7, 2026.
@Sec_Noem/X
Video launched by Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem reveals the Motor Tanker Sophia being apprehended in worldwide waters close to the Caribbean, Jan. 7, 2026.
@Sec_Noem/X
The U.S. Coast Guard had been monitoring the Marinera tanker for the final two weeks after trying to grab it on Dec. 20 when the empty ship was within the Caribbean and apparently headed to Venezuela.
On Dec. 31, the Russian Maritime Register of Delivery listed the ship — with the brand new identify of Marinera — as a Russian vessel. The ship’s crew additionally painted a Russian flag on the ship’s aspect.
This handout {photograph} launched by the Russian state media RT on January 7, 2026 allegedly reveals a view from the Russian tanker Marinera being pursued by a US helicopter at an undisclosed location within the North Atlantic.
RT by way of Ruptly/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
The Bella-1 beforehand flew a false Panamanian flag and is suspected to be a part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” which Moscow is accused of utilizing to evade worldwide sanctions.
The ship just lately activated its transponder, permitting open-source maritime monitoring web sites to find the ship as being within the North Atlantic Ocean near Iceland and the UK.
The UK issued an announcement saying it supported the U.S. seizure of the Russian-flagged tanker.
U.S. European Command has confirmed in a put up on X, the seizure of the oil tanker Marinera, formally often known as the M/V Bella 1 within the North Atlantic, Jan. 7, 2026.
U.S. European Command/X
The Russian Ministry of Transport condemned the seizure of the oil tanker within the North Atlantic in an announcement on Wednesday.
“U.S. naval forces boarded the vessel in worldwide waters exterior the territorial waters of any state, and speak to with the vessel was misplaced,” the assertion learn. The ministry added, “No state has the fitting to make use of drive in opposition to vessels duly registered within the jurisdictions of different states.”
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt was requested at a press briefing on Wednesday if the tanker seizure risked a bigger battle with Russia. She mentioned the tanker was a “Venezuelan shadow fleet vessel” and “deemed stateless.”
“This was a Venezuelan shadow fleet vessel that has transported sanctioned oil. The vessel was deemed stateless after flying a false flag and it had a judicial seizure order. And that is why the crew shall be topic to prosecution,” she informed reporters.
White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks through the day by day briefing within the Brady Briefing Room of the White Home in Washington, January 7, 2026.
Mandel Ngan/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
President Donald Trump in December introduced what he known as a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers out and in Venezuela. Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday posted the “blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil stays in FULL EFFECT — wherever on the planet.”
“America continues to implement the blockade in opposition to all darkish fleet vessels illegally transporting Venezuelan oil to finance illicit exercise, stealing from the Venezuelan individuals. Solely authentic and lawful vitality commerce — as decided by the U.S. — shall be permitted,” Hegseth posted to X.
Trump introduced on Tuesday night time that Venezuela will flip over 30 to 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the U.S. Sources informed ABC Information that these barrels signify the primary tranche to be handed over to U.S. management.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, subsequent to Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaks to the media on the day of a briefing for the Home of Representatives on the state of affairs in Venezuela, on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 7, 2026.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
The Trump administration intends to supervise the sale of Venezuela’s oil indefinitely and a few sanctions in opposition to Venezuela shall be lifted, two sources aware of the plan informed ABC Information.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio touted the “great leverage and management” the US now exerts over Venezuela’s oil trade and advised Venezuela desires the oil captured within the Caribbean on Wednesday by U.S. forces to be part of its export cope with the administration.
“We’re within the midst proper now, and actually, about to execute on a deal to take all of the oil. They’ve oil that’s caught in Venezuela. They cannot transfer it due to our quarantine and since it is sanctioned. We’re going to take between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil,” Rubio informed reporters after a categorised briefing with senators on Capitol Hill.
“They need that oil that was seized to be a part of this deal. They perceive that the one approach they will transfer oil and generate income and never have financial collapse is that if they cooperate and work with the US. And that is what we see are going to occur,” Rubio mentioned.
ABC Information’ Mariam Khan and Rachel Scott contributed to this report.
