British armed forces collaborated with the US in an operation to intercept a ‘ghost fleet’ oil tanker earlier today. The UK Ministry of Defence disclosed that assets such as RAF surveillance and the RFA Tideforce support ship participated in the joint operation led by the US.
A tactical team from the US Coastguard boarded the Marinera tanker in a dawn raid with backing from UK military elements, as confirmed by the Ministry of Defence.
John Healey, the UK Defence Secretary, commended the UK Armed Forces for their role in aiding the successful US interception of the vessel Bella 1 en route to Russia. This operation was part of a global initiative to combat sanctions violations.
The seized ship, Bella 1, known for its dubious past, is linked to a Russian-Iranian alliance involved in evading sanctions, thereby contributing to terrorism and conflicts from the Middle East to Ukraine.
Furthermore, a newly released video depicts armed US troops boarding an oil tanker, one of two vessels seized by the US. The footage shows the US Coast Guard’s ‘tactical team’ descending onto the ship’s deck from a helicopter, as shared by Kristi Noem, the US Homeland Security official.
According to an American official, the Russian-flagged tanker Marinera, also known as Bella-1, is now under US control following the daring nighttime operation. Reports suggest that a Russian submarine and other vessels are monitoring the tanker’s movements.
Noem confirmed a second raid on the oil tanker Sophia in the Caribbean shortly after the first operation. Both vessels, Bella I and Sophia, were either last docked in Venezuela or en route there.
The US Department of Justice and Homeland Security announced the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for breaching US sanctions, as per a statement released earlier today by the European Command. The vessel was apprehended in the North Atlantic following surveillance by USCGC Munro.
In her statement, Noem praised President Trump’s leadership and the collaborative efforts of various US government branches in executing the two successful operations. She highlighted the challenges faced by the USCGC Munro in pursuing Bella I across perilous seas and storms.
The UK military’s assistance was crucial in capturing the Venezuelan-linked vessel, previously known as Bella-1, as it traversed waters near Scotland. An emergency statement regarding the seizure of the Marinera tanker is anticipated in the Commons this evening.