US military seizes Venezuelan oil tanker which was being escorted to by Russian navy ships and submarine

Thursday, January 8, 2026 - A video has emerged showing American military officers seizing a Venezuelan oil tanker that was reportedly being escorted toward Russia by Russian navy ships and a submarine, marking a major escalation in the enforcement of US sanctions in the Atlantic.

The United States has now formally confirmed the seizure. In a social media post, US European Command said American forces had taken control of the tanker after tracking it across the Atlantic. The vessel, originally called Bella 1, was sanctioned by the US in 2024 for operating as part of a so-called “shadow fleet” used to transport illicit oil.

Reuters first reported the seizure on Wednesday, January 7, quoting two sources who said the operation was carried out by the US Coast Guard with support from the US military. According to a US official, the Russian military had moved naval assets, including a submarine, to protect the tanker in the days leading up to the seizure, although it remains unclear how close those vessels were when US forces intercepted the ship.

Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic shows the tanker was seized roughly 190 miles off the southern coast of Iceland in the North Atlantic. The data indicates the vessel made a sharp turn south around the time reports of the seizure began to emerge.

US Southern Command separately announced on X that another vessel was seized in the Caribbean on the same day. The command said that ship was considered stateless and was allegedly “conducting illicit activities.”

US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem hailed both actions, writing: “The world’s criminals are on notice. You can run, but you can’t hide. We will never relent in our mission to protect the American people and disrupt the funding of narco-terrorism wherever we find it, period.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump was undeterred by concerns that the seizures could raise tensions with Russia and China. “He’s going to enforce our policy that’s best for the United States of America,” she told reporters. “That means enforcing the embargo against all dark fleet vessels that are illegally transporting oil.”

The US Coast Guard had attempted to seize the Bella 1 last month near Venezuela but did not board it after the ship turned around and fled. US authorities continued to pursue the tanker as it headed northeast across the Atlantic.

US P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft were deployed from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk to monitor the vessel for several days, according to open-source flight data, as it moved past the UK coast and toward northern waters. CNN has reported that US military assets were repositioned to the UK ahead of the seizure, with at least 12 US C-17 transport aircraft landing at RAF Fairford and RAF Lakenheath between January 3 and 5. V-22 Ospreys and AC-130 gunships were also observed operating from UK bases.

Noem said the US Coast Guard Cutter Munro had followed the tanker “across the high seas and through treacherous storms — keeping diligent watch, and protecting our country with the determination and patriotism that make Americans proud.”

During the pursuit, the tanker’s crew painted a Russian flag on the hull and claimed it was sailing under Russian protection. Shortly after, the vessel appeared on Russia’s official register under a new name, Marinera. Moscow filed a formal diplomatic request last month demanding that Washington stop pursuing the ship.

Despite the reflagging, two sources familiar with the matter said the Trump administration does not recognise the vessel’s claimed Russian status and considers it effectively stateless. At a briefing with key lawmakers, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly said the US did not believe Russia could simply claim the tanker by re-registering it.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a social media post that the tanker’s crew were “under full investigation” and that criminal charges would be pursued against “all culpable actors” for failing to obey Coast Guard orders. She warned that crews of other sanctioned tankers could face prosecution if they refused to comply with US authorities.

The UK confirmed it provided support to the operation. In a statement, the British defence ministry said: “UK Armed Forces provided pre-planned operational support, including basing, to US military assets interdicting the Bella 1 in the UK-Iceland-Greenland gap following a US request for assistance.” It added that the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker RFA Tideforce supported US forces pursuing the vessel, while the Royal Air Force provided aerial surveillance.

The seizure follows President Trump’s announcement last month of a “complete blockade” on sanctioned oil tankers attempting to enter or leave Venezuela. The policy is part of Washington’s pressure campaign following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. Rubio has said the US will continue enforcing the blockade as leverage over Venezuela’s interim government.

US officials say that if the Marinera seizure stands, it would be the third Venezuelan-linked oil tanker captured since September, underscoring Washington’s determination to crack down on sanction-evading “dark fleet” operations worldwide.