US seizes two ‘ghost fleet’ tankers linked to Venezuelan oil

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

U.S. forces boarded the Russian-flagged Marinera after a nearly two-week chase and as it passed through the waters between Iceland and Scotland. The British Navy provided air and sea logistical support.

A second tanker, the M/T Sophia, was accused by the United States of “conducting illicit activities” and boarded in the Caribbean.

The moves come as the United States seeks to choke off most Venezuelan crude oil exports and just days after its special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a blitzkrieg raid on his residence in Caracas.

In an article on »

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

The Transport Ministry said it had given the ship “temporary permission” to use the Russian flag, adding that no state had the right to use force against ships duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states.

Reports suggested that Russia sent a submarine to protect the ship, but it appears that US forces were able to board the tanker without encountering resistance.

The White House described the ship as a “Venezuelan ghost fleet vessel deemed stateless after flying a false flag and facing a court order” against it.

Venezuelan leaders are cooperating with the United States over the second oil tanker seized in the Caribbean, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

“They understand that the only way to move oil and generate revenue without collapsing economically is to cooperate and 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, worth around $2.8bn (£2.1bn) to the US.

Rubio said the United States would sell Venezuela’s oil “on the market at market rates” and would control how the proceeds were distributed “in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people.”

He said the United States has a thoughtful plan for Venezuela’s future and the administration is “not just winging it.”

China – the biggest buyer of Venezuelan oil in recent years – has condemned the US measures and accused them of threatening global energy security.

The seizure of the two tankers was announced by the US military in separate social media posts on Wednesday.

The US European Command said the M/V Bella 1 – using the former name Marinera – had been boarded “for violating US sanctions”.

“The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court after being spotted by the USCGC Munro,” a Coast Guard cutter.

The British Ministry of Defense said RAF surveillance aircraft and a naval support ship, the RFA Tideforce, were among British military assets that took part in the operation, following a request for American assistance.

Defense Secretary John Healey said the action was “in full compliance with international law” and “part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions evasion.”

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

Footage published by Russian state broadcaster RT shows a helicopter near a ship that appears to be the M/V Bella 1.

The Russian maritime register shows that the tanker changed its name to Marinera and was sailing under the Russian flag. Its home port is the city of Sochi in southern Russia on the Black Sea.

The Russian Transport Ministry said US forces boarded the Marinera around 3:00 p.m. Moscow time (12:00 GMT), after which communications with the ship were lost.

U.S. officials said last month that Marinera was falsely flying Guyana’s flag, rendering her stateless.

Experts told BBC Verify that the United States named the ship Bella 1 because a ship cannot change flags during a voyage unless there is an actual transfer of ownership or change of registration.

Experts also said that under United Nations international maritime law, a stateless vessel can be boarded by authorities.

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

“The proscribed vessel, the M/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. Coast Guard is escorting the M/T Sophia to the United States for final disposition.”

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

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that “in two pre-dawn operations today, the Coast Guard conducted consecutive, meticulously coordinated boardings of two ‘Ghost Fleet’ tankers.”

She said the two seized vessels “were either last docked in Venezuela or en route to that country.”