The M/V Bella 1, a Russian-flagged oil tanker, was seized in the Atlantic Ocean, officials say.
The U.S. military announced Wednesday that it seized two oil tankers in the Atlantic Ocean, including one linked to Venezuelan oil shipments, coming just days after an operation that led to the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
In a statement confirming the development, U.S. European Command wrote that the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and the Pentagon were involved in the operation to seize the M/V Bella 1, a Russian-flagged crude oil tanker.
The reason for the seizure was “for violations of U.S. sanctions,” the statement said.
“The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro,” it added, referring to a type of U.S. Coast Guard cutter vessel.
In another statement, the U.S. Southern Command said it seized a second oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea. The vessel was described as a “stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker” that was captured in an early morning operation.
“The interdicted vessel, M/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea,” the military said. “The U.S. Coast Guard is escorting M/T Sophia to the U.S. for final disposition.”
Southern Command did not say whether the Sophia was connected to the shipment of oil from Venezuela.
Russian state-run media RT on Wednesday published images of U.S. forces boarding Bella 1 vessel, showing a helicopter flying near the ship. The outlet said that U.S. forces were attempting to board the oil tanker.
In a statement published by the outlet, Russia’s foreign ministry said that “for reasons unknown to us, the Russian vessel is getting excessive attention from the U.S. and NATO militaries, clearly disproportionate to its peaceful status.”
State-run media also said that the vessel was renamed to Marinera from the Bella 1.
Commenting on the Bella 1 seizure, U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote: “The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world.”
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem wrote on X that U.S. forces seized both the Bella 1 and Sophia ships because they were “either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it.”
The announcements on Wednesday came after the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in an operation over the weekend.
