The US has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela, following a dramatic weekslong chase on the high seas. The tanker, which changed its name from the Bella 1 to the Marinera, was seized in the North Atlantic on Wednesday. The US also announced the seizure of another sanctioned tanker, the M/T Sophia, which was conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea.
The seizure of the Marinera is a significant development in the ongoing standoff between the US and Venezuela. The US had imposed sanctions on Venezuela, and the tanker's efforts to evade authorities were closely tracked by observers and analysts. The Kremlin, a strong supporter of deposed President Nicolás Maduro, accused the US of violating maritime law by seizing the Marinera.
The US European Command confirmed the seizure, stating that the vessel was seized pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court. The US Southern Command also announced the seizure of the M/T Sophia, which was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea. The seizures are seen as a demonstration of the US's commitment to enforcing its sanctions on Venezuela.