US seizes two ‘Ghost Fleet’ tankers linked to Venezuelan oil

The United States says it has seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuelan oil exports in “back-to-back” operations in the North Atlantic and Caribbean.

After a nearly two-week pursuit, U.S. forces boarded the Russian-flagged Marinella as it sailed through the waters between Iceland and Scotland. The British Navy provides logistical support via air and sea.

A second oil tanker – the M/T Sophia – was boarded in the Caribbean by the US accused of “conducting illegal activities”.

The moves come as the United States seeks to block most of Venezuela’s crude oil exports, just days after U.S. special forces arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a lightning raid on his home in Caracas.

“The blockade of sanctioned and illegal Venezuelan oil remains in full force and effect – anywhere in the world,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote in a post on X.

Moscow condemned the seizure of the tanker flying its flag and demanded that the United States treat the Russians on board properly and allow them to return to Russia quickly.

The transport ministry said it had granted the ship “temporary permission” to use the Russian flag, adding that no country had the right to use force against a vessel that was properly registered within the jurisdiction of another country.

There were reports that Russia had sent a submarine to protect the ship, but the U.S. military appeared to be able to board the tanker without encountering any resistance.

The White House described the ship as “a Venezuelan shadow fleet that flew a false flag and was deemed stateless and had judicial orders filed against it.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Venezuela’s leadership is working with the United States to deal with the seizure of a second oil tanker in the Caribbean.

“They understand that the only way they can move oil and generate revenue without collapsing the economy is to work with the United States,” Rubio told reporters.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said Venezuela, which has the world’s largest oil reserves, would “hand over” up to 50 million barrels of oil to the US, worth about $2.8bn (£2.1bn).

Rubio said the United States will sell Venezuelan oil on the market “at market prices” and control how the proceeds are distributed “in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people.”

He said the United States has a well-thought-out plan for Venezuela’s future and that the government “will not wing it.”

China, the largest buyer of Venezuelan oil in recent years, condemned the U.S. move and accused it of threatening global energy security.

The U.S. military announced the seizure of the two tankers in separate posts on social media on Wednesday.

U.S. European Command said the M/V Bella 1, which uses the Marinera’s previous name, was boarded “in violation of U.S. sanctions.”

After being tracked by the Coast Guard cutter USCGC Munro, the vessel was seized in the North Atlantic on a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court.

The British Ministry of Defense said RAF reconnaissance aircraft and a naval support ship, the RFA Tideforce, took part in the operation after the United States requested assistance.

Defense Secretary John Healey said the action was “fully consistent with international law” and “formed part of a global effort to combat sanctions breaches”.

The ship was accused of violating U.S. sanctions and transporting Iranian oil.

Images released by Russian state broadcaster RT showed a helicopter approaching a vessel suspected to be the M/V Bella 1.

The Russian Maritime Ship Register shows that the tanker has been renamed “Marinera” and sails under the Russian flag. Its home port is the southern Russian city of Sochi on the Black Sea coast.

The Russian Transport Ministry said that the US military boarded the Marinera at around 15:00 Moscow time (1200 GMT) and subsequently lost contact with the ship.

U.S. officials said Marinella mistakenly flew the Guyanese flag last month, rendering her stateless.

Experts told BBC Verify that the United States calls the ship “Bella 1” because the ship cannot change flags while underway unless there is an actual transfer of ownership or change of registration.

Experts also said that under United Nations international maritime law, authorities can board stateless vessels.

Separately, U.S. Southern Command announced Wednesday that the Department of Defense and Homeland Security “secured a stateless, sanctioned Dark Fleet mobile tanker without incident.”

“The intercepted ship Sophia was operating in international waters and conducting illegal activities in the Caribbean. The U.S. Coast Guard is escorting the ship Sophia to the United States for final disposal.”

U.S. Southern Command also released a video showing a helicopter circling over a ship.

“In two predawn operations today, the Coast Guard boarded two ‘Ghost Fleet’ oil tankers in consecutive, well-coordinated operations,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said.

She said the two seized ships “either ended up in Venezuela or are en route to Venezuela.”