BREAKING: U.S. forces board a Venezuela-linked sanctioned oil tanker in North Atlantic after pursuing it for weeks, U.S. official says. https://t.co/ChB7oLPAO3
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 7, 2026
The United States has launched an operation to seize an oil tanker linked to Venezuela after tracking it across the Atlantic, a source with knowledge of the matter told CNN. The vessel, originally named the Bella 1, was sanctioned in 2024 for operating within a “shadow fleet” transporting illicit oil. The operation, first reported by Reuters, involves the U.S. Coast Guard and military forces.
Last month, U.S. forces attempted to board the tanker near Venezuela but were unable to do so after it turned around and fled, beginning a northeast chase. U.S. surveillance aircraft from RAF Mildenhall monitored the vessel ahead of the current action. At some point during the pursuit, the tanker’s crew painted a Russian flag on its hull and it was later listed on Russia’s official ship register under the name Marinera.
By claiming Russian status, the legalities of the seizure could become more complex, though U.S. officials regard the ship as stateless. The government has repositioned military assets in support of the operation, including transport aircraft and special operations aircraft stationed in the UK. The escalating action reflects Washington’s intensified enforcement of sanctions on Venezuelan oil shipments.