Busted: U.S. Seizes Shadow Fleet Tanker Carrying Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil After Reflagging as Russian to Evade Capture

A Venezuela-linked “shadow fleet” oil tanker—formerly Bella-1, now Marinera—was seized by U.S. forces in the North Atlantic for violating U.S. sanctions after a weeks-long pursuit. The vessel changed flags multiple times—sailing under Guyana, Panama, and finally Russia, even painting a Russian flag on its hull—in an apparent bid to evade enforcement by claiming state protection under international law. U.S. authorities moved anyway: United States European Command confirmed the seizure pursuant to a federal court warrant, coordinated with DOJ and DHS, after tracking by the Coast Guard cutter Munro. Moscow escalated by dispatching a submarine and warship to shadow the tanker, marking a dangerous test of sanctions enforcement at sea as Washington cracks down on illicit oil trafficking tied to Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.

Given the Democrats’ obsessive hatred of Donald Trump, even rivaling their professed hostility toward Russia, the question isn’t hypothetical anymore: when those animosities collide, whose side do they choose?

U.S. forces boarded sanctioned oil tanker between Iceland and the British isles before Russian warships and a submarine could arrive, officials say. The tanker was previously called Bella 1, but had reflagged to become a Russian vessel.

— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) January 7, 2026

SKY NEWS military analyst Sean BelL:

“What’s interesting about this ship is it was sailing under a Guyana flag when it left the Caribbean,” Bell said.

“It changed its name to what is now the Marinera and it’s also adopted the Russian flag… apparently it’s also painted a Russian flag on the side of the vessel.”

Our analyst added that the move is important because “under international law, if you are sailing under a certain flag, you’re [under] the protection of that nation”.

And that could be even more significant now the vessel has been taken into US custody.

US confirms ‘seizure’ of Marinera oil tanker for violating US sanctions

The United States European Command has confirmed the “seizure” of the Marinera oil tanker for violating US sanctions.

Read the Command’s full statement below:

“The @TheJusticeDept & @DHSgov , in coordination with the @DeptofWar today announced the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violations of U.S. sanctions.

“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.”

The announcement comes after a US official told our US partner network, NBC News, that the vessel had been secured and was in US custody (see our post at 13.25).

U.S. military and United States Coast Guard forces are conducting an operation to board and seize the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera — formerly the Bella-1 — after a more than two-week pursuit across the Atlantic, sources say. The tanker, which sailed from Iran and was linked to Russian shadow fleet transport of sanctioned oil for Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, evaded earlier U.S. attempts to intercept it near Venezuela and then changed its flag to Russia. In response, Russia reportedly dispatched a submarine and other naval vessels to escort the ship as it moved through the North Atlantic, raising the stakes of a high-seas confrontation just as Washington is intensifying efforts to enforce sanctions and cut off illicit crude trade.

The standoff occurred over the Marinera is a dangerous new precedent. By reflagging a ‘shadow fleet’ tanker mid-pursuit and deploying a submarine as an escort, Russia is directly challenging U.S. sanctions enforcement in international waters

Hegseth says US blockade of ‘illicit’ Venezuelan oil in ‘FULL EFFECT – anywhere in the world’

Latest news

• Oil tanker with Russia-Venezuela links seized by US, official says  
• After Russian submarine reportedly escorted tanker pursued by US in Atlantic  
• Sanctioned tanker tracked – after ‘Russian flag painted on hull’  

BREAKING:

U.S. military forces are attempting to board Russia's shadow fleet tanker Marinera (formerly Bella 1) in the Atlantic

The New York Times says the tanker was previously named Bella 1 and sailed under the Panamanian flag.

After leaving Venezuela and coming under… pic.twitter.com/OFn7CdGjLi

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 7, 2026

U.S. military forces are attempting to board Russia’s shadow fleet tanker Marinera (formerly Bella 1) in the Atlantic

The New York Times says the tanker was previously named Bella 1 and sailed under the Panamanian flag.

After leaving Venezuela and coming under pursuit by the U.S. Navy, the vessel changed its flag to Russian and is now officially registered as Marinera in Russia.

In response, Russia reportedly dispatched a submarine to protect the tanker, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The tanker is linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, which transports sanctioned Iranian oil.

Exclusive: US seizing Venezuela-linked, Russian-flagged oil tanker after weeks-long pursuit

By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart, Reuters, January 7, 2026:

US pursuing third oil tanker near Venezuela, officials say

WASHINGTON, Jan 7 (Reuters) – The United States is attempting to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker with links to Venezuela after a more than two-week-long pursuit across the Atlantic and as a Russian submarine and warship were close by, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Wednesday.

The seizure, which could stoke tensions with Russia, came after the tanker, originally known as the Bella-1, slipped through a U.S. maritime “blockade” of sanctioned tankers and rebuffed U.S. Coast Guard efforts to board it.

The United States continues to enforce the blockade against all dark fleet vessels illegally transporting Venezuelan oil to finance illicit activity, stealing from the Venezuelan people. Only legitimate and lawful energy commerce—as determined by the U.S.—will be permitted.

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) January 7, 2026

In two predawn operations today, the Coast Guard conducted back-to-back meticulously coordinated boarding of two “ghost fleet”  tanker ships— one in the North Atlantic Sea and one in international waters near the Caribbean.  Both vessels —the Motor Tanker Bella I and the Motor… pic.twitter.com/EZlHEtcufX

— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) January 7, 2026

JUST IN: The United States has seized two “ghost fleet” tanker ships including a Russian-flagged tanker linked to Venezuela following a multi-week long pursuit.

“In two predawn operations today, the Coast Guard conducted back-to-back meticulously coordinated boarding of two… pic.twitter.com/e0vSMXrYPZ

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 7, 2026

More seizures of illegal oil…