US seizes Venezuela‑linked, Russia‑flagged ‘Bella 1’ oil tanker after weeks‑long Atlantic chase

U.S. forces have seized a Venezuela-linked, Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic after a weeks-long pursuit, marking a high-stakes maritime enforcement action amid ongoing sanctions against Venezuelan oil shipments. The vessel, formerly known as Bella 1 and re-registered as Marinera, was tracked by the U.S. Coast Guard and military before being boarded and taken into custody under a U.S. federal court warrant for sanctions violations. The operation, part of a broader effort to uphold sanctions targeting illicit Venezuelan and allied oil exports, occurred despite the presence of Russian naval assets in the area, underscoring rising tensions over enforcement and international maritime law.