The United States military seizes a Russia-flagged oil tanker called "Marinera" (formerly "Bella 1") after a pursuit of more than two weeks across the Atlantic Ocean as part of enforcement of a maritime blockade on sanctioned tankers. American officials say the operation involved the United States Coast Guard and other military forces and was carried out for alleged sanctions violations. [https:--www.reuters.com-business-energy-us-seizing-venezuela-linked-oil-tanker-after-weeks-long-pursuit-2026-01-07- (Reuters)]:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} The United States also seizes another Venezuela-linked tanker, "M. Sophia", in the Caribbean Sea for alleged illicit activities while enforcing the oil blockade. [https:--www.reuters.com-business-energy-us-seizing-venezuela-linked-oil-tanker-after-weeks-long-pursuit-2026-01-07- (Reuters)]:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} The United States military seizes a Russia-flagged oil tanker called "Marinera" (formerly "Bella 1") after a pursuit of more than two weeks across the Atlantic Ocean as part of enforcement of a maritime blockade on sanctioned tankers. American officials say the operation involved the United States Coast Guard and other military forces and was carried out for alleged sanctions violations. [https:--www.reuters.com-business-energy-us-seizing-venezuela-linked-oil-tanker-after-weeks-long-pursuit-2026-01-07- (Reuters)]:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
The United States boards and seizes the sanctioned Russian-flagged tanker "Marinera" ("Bella 1") in the North Atlantic Ocean after it breached the U.S.naval blockade around Venezuela.