The US military has announced the seizure of a second oil tanker with ties to Venezuela. The Panama-flagged supertanker, named M/T Sophia, was captured in the Caribbean Sea during an early morning operation led by the US Southern Command. According to the command, the vessel was engaged in illicit activities in international waters and is now being escorted to the United States by the US Coast Guard.
In a separate operation, the US European Command disclosed the interception of a Russian-flagged ship, the Marinera (formerly known as Bella 1), in the North Atlantic for suspected violations of US sanctions related to Venezuelan oil. The vessel was tracked for over two weeks before being boarded by US forces in the waters between Iceland and Scotland. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed British support for the operation, involving RAF aircraft and the naval supply ship RFA Tideforce.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey commended the UK Armed Forces for assisting in intercepting the Bella 1 vessel, emphasizing the importance of global efforts to combat sanctions breaches. He highlighted the vessel’s connections to Iran and Russia, underscoring the need to thwart illegal activities that jeopardize security and stability worldwide.
The Marinera, described as a “falsely flagged” ship with a history of illicit operations, was confronted by US authorities after it failed to comply with directives. Despite not directly participating in the boarding, the UK authorized the use of its facilities and deployed RAF and Navy assets to support the US in the operation.
Both American and British surveillance aircraft have monitored the Marinera’s movements in the Atlantic recently. Russian reports indicated that the vessel had been granted temporary permission to sail under the Russian flag on Christmas Eve, having been previously registered in Guyana. The Russian transport ministry asserted that international law prohibits the use of force against vessels registered in other jurisdictions.
Before the seizure, a Kremlin adviser cautioned that any hostile action against the Marinera could strain relations between Russia and the US. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later addressed concerns over escalating tensions, affirming the President’s commitment to enforcing policies that safeguard US interests, including the embargo on unauthorized oil transport by dark-fleet vessels.
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