The US military announced the seizure of a second oil tanker linked to Venezuela today. The Panama-flagged supertanker, M/T Sophia, was captured in the Caribbean Sea during a pre-dawn operation on Wednesday, according to the US Southern Command. The vessel was engaged in illicit activities in international waters, and the US Coast Guard is currently escorting it to the United States.
In a separate incident, the US European Command reported intercepting a Russian-flagged vessel associated with Venezuelan oil in the North Atlantic. The vessel, previously known as Bella 1 and now named Marinera, was seized for allegedly breaching US sanctions after a tracking operation lasting over two weeks.
The interception of the Marinera occurred in the waters between Iceland and Scotland, with US forces boarding the ship around 12 pm GMT. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that British forces, along with RAF aircraft and the naval supply ship RFA Tideforce, supported the operation.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey praised the UK Armed Forces for their role in assisting the US interception of the vessel, emphasizing the importance of combating sanctions violations. He described the Marinera as a “falsely flagged” vessel with a history of illicit activities and connections to Iran and Russia.
Both American and British surveillance aircraft have been monitoring the Marinera’s movements in the Atlantic. Despite objections from Russia regarding the vessel’s seizure, the US and UK maintained their actions were in accordance with international law and aimed at upholding sanctions.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed concerns about potential tensions with Russia and China following the tanker seizures. She reiterated the US commitment to enforcing policies that safeguard national interests, including maintaining embargoes on vessels involved in illegal oil transportation.