Name: U.S. seizes two more sanctioned oil tankers with links to Venezuela
Uploaded: 2026-01-07T19:27:31.421Z
Duration: 1 min 10 s
Description: U.S. forces have boarded a Venezuela-linked sanctioned oil tanker in the North Atlantic after pursuing it for weeks. The U.S. military also announced the seizure of a sanctioned tanker ship in the Caribbean Sea, the second vessel taken by American forces on Wednesday.

U.S. forces have boarded a Venezuela-linked sanctioned oil tanker in the North Atlantic after pursuing it for weeks. The U.S. military also announced the seizure of a sanctioned tanker ship in the Caribbean Sea, the second vessel taken by American forces on Wednesday.

The U.S has launched strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities and arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro along wife his wife.

Venezuela Strikes

U.S. officials have announced the seizure of two oil tankers linked to Venezuela in separate actions in the North Atlantic and Caribbean. The first tanker, previously named Bella 1, evaded a partial U.S. blockade and a Coast Guard boarding attempt before being pursued into waters between Scotland and Iceland. 

The tanker was re-flagged as Russian and renamed Marinera, with reports indicating a Russian submarine escorted it. U.S. authorities state these tankers are part of a shadow fleet transporting oil in violation of U.S. sanctions, as part of ongoing efforts to enforce restrictions on oil shipments to and from Venezuela.

U.S. seizes two more sanctioned oil tankers with links to Venezuela

U.S. forces have seized two sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela in back-to-back actions in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean, officials said on Wednesday. The United States had been chasing the first oil tanker, formerly known as the Bella 1, since it evaded a partial U.S. blockade around Venezuela and thwarted an attempt by the U.S. Coast Guard to board it late last month. U.S. European Command said a Coast Guard cutter had pursued the tanker into the waters between Scotland and Iceland. U.S. media reported that Russia had sent a submarine to escort the empty oil tanker. It was re-flagged as Russian and renamed the Marinera after turning toward Europe. U.S. officials said the tanker is part of a shadow fleet carrying oil for countries such as Venezuela, Russia and Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. The developments are the latest in U.S. President Donald Trump's crackdown on sanctioned oil tankers going to and from Venezuela. The oil tanker guarded by Russia had been en route to Venezuela but was not carrying cargo before it evaded the U.S. blockade.

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U.S. seizes two more sanctioned oil tankers with links to Venezuela

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Venezuela Strikes