U.S. Forces Board, Seize Rogue Russian-Flagged Tanker in North Atlantic Sea
The United States seized a rogue Russian-flagged tanker linked to Venezuelan oil in the North Atlantic Sea on Wednesday. British military support was included in the perfectly executed commando-style boarding.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem earlier announced another seizure in a social media post.
“In two pre-dawn operations today, the Coast Guard conducted consecutive and meticulously coordinated boardings of two ‘ghost fleet’ tankers – one in the North Atlantic Sea and one in international waters near the Caribbean,” she said.
Noem said the Motor Tanker M/V Bella I (later renamed the Marinera and renamed Russian) and the Motor Tanker Sophie were either last moored in Venezuela or on their way to that country.
The US European Command confirmed the arrest and boarding of the sanctioned vessel. Beautiful 1 after more than two weeks of pursuit across the Atlantic.
The Stateless Ship – originally known as M/V Bella-1 – is the latest target of the US Coast Guard since the start of President Donald Trump’s pressure campaign against Venezuela.
The seizure of the ship, which escaped boarding near Venezuela, was a joint operation between the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. military personnel, the U.S. European Command, which is responsible for the region, said in an article on X.
The United States had been pursuing the tanker since last month after it attempted to evade a U.S. blockade on sanctioned oil ships around Venezuela.
Fox News reports that several military aircraft have already been spotted heading towards the ship.
The ship is accused of violating U.S. sanctions and shipping Iranian oil – it historically carries Venezuelan crude, but reports indicate it is currently empty.
The BBC reports that a Russian submarine and other ships have already been sent to escort the tanker across the Atlantic.
The American army seized the Beautiful 1 and then handed control over to law enforcement officials, said a U.S. official, who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations.
The outlet reports that the ship was sanctioned by the United States in 2024 for allegedly smuggling goods for a company linked to the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
RELATED: Seizure! US government captures tanker carrying sanctioned Iranian and Venezuelan oil
The U.S. Coast Guard attempted to board it in the Caribbean in December as it headed to Venezuela. The ship refused boarding and crossed the Atlantic.
Meanwhile, the Beautiful 1 was renamed Marinera and flying the flag of Russia, according to shipping databases. The U.S. official also confirmed to AP that the ship’s crew had painted a Russian flag on the side of the hull.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in December that the U.S. Coast Guard, with support from the War Department, had seized a second oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
UPDATE: The British Ministry of Defense says it today supports US efforts to seize the Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic, including with RAF aircraft.
Here is a statement from British Defense Secretary John Healey via the BBC:
“Today, our British Armed Forces demonstrated competence and professionalism in successfully supporting the US interception of the Bella 1 vessel as it headed towards Russia.
“This action was part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions evasion.
“This ship, with its harmful history, is part of a Russian-Iranian axis of circumvention of sanctions which fuels terrorism, conflicts and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine.
“The UK will continue to step up its action against Shadow Fleet activities to protect our national security, economy and global stability – ensuring the UK’s security at home and strength abroad. »
More to come…
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