Washington, D.C., January 8: The United States Coast Guard on Wednesday released footage showing US forces boarding and seizing the oil tanker Bella I, later renamed Marinera, in the North Atlantic as part of intensified efforts to enforce sanctions linked to Venezuela’s oil trade.
In a post accompanying the video, the Coast Guard said the operation demonstrated its specialized capabilities, global reach, and the strength of joint force operations, highlighting the role of coordinated maritime law enforcement in upholding international sanctions.
Providing details of the mission, the Coast Guard said that, alongside the Department of Defense, it conducted the boarding and seizure of the motor tanker Bella I following a sustained shadowing effort across the Atlantic by the Coast Guard Cutter Munro. Tactical Coast Guard teams then used maritime law enforcement authorities to secure the vessel through a tightly coordinated joint operation.
The Coast Guard emphasized the interagency effort behind the action, stating that through a whole-of-government approach and seamless coordination, US maritime forces were able to uphold international law and defend American interests.
The seizure of Bella I is part of a broader US crackdown on vessels linked to Venezuela’s oil trade. The United States has taken control of two oil tankers connected to Venezuela, one of which was flying a Russian flag. The White House said President Donald Trump is not afraid to continue seizing sanctioned vessels, even amid concerns that such actions could escalate tensions with Russia and China, CNN reported.
According to companies that track global oil shipments, one of the seized tankers had evaded US authorities for weeks, while the other was carrying up to two million barrels of Venezuelan crude.
Shipping intelligence firms Kpler and TankerTrackers.com told The New York Times that both vessels were part of a so-called “ghost fleet,” referring to ships that covertly transport oil on behalf of Russia, Iran, or Venezuela in violation of sanctions imposed by the United States and other countries.
Hours after the seizures, including that of the Russian-flagged tanker, the US Secretary of State outlined a plan for Venezuela’s near-term future that included proposals for the United States to sell up to 50 million barrels of seized Venezuelan oil and determine how the proceeds would be distributed, the report said.
The seizure of the Russian-flagged tanker marked a further escalation in tensions with Moscow following the ouster of its ally, former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. According to The New York Times, the US military said its forces seized the vessel in the North Atlantic between Scotland and Iceland for violating US sanctions.
The report added that the ship was not carrying oil at the time of the seizure but had previously attempted to sail to Venezuela to load crude and had evaded US forces for more than two weeks before being intercepted.
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