The United States has seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela as part of ongoing enforcement of sanctions against the country. In swift actions, U.S. European Command announced the capture of the merchant vessel Bella 1 for “violations of U.S. sanctions.” This operation took place in the North Atlantic, while the tanker Sophia was taken in the Caribbean Sea.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem confirmed via social media that both vessels were either last docked in Venezuela or en route to the country. The seizures are part of a larger crackdown on a “ghost fleet” of sanctioned vessels transporting oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela in defiance of Western sanctions, primarily to clients in Asia.
In a notable policy shift, the Trump administration is selectively easing sanctions to facilitate the sale of Venezuelan oil. According to an outline from the Energy Department, these sales could commence immediately, with projections of up to 50 million barrels from Venezuela. The U.S. government stated that proceeds from these sales would be deposited in U.S.-controlled accounts at “globally recognized banks,” allowing for eventual disbursement to U.S. and Venezuelan populations at the government’s discretion.
The recent seizures follow a dramatic military operation in Caracas, where U.S. forces captured former President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. The Trump administration has accused Maduro of collaborating with drug traffickers. In response to these developments, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized on NBC that U.S. enforcement of oil sanctions would continue, stating, “We are enforcing American laws with regards to oil sanctions.”
The U.S. military’s actions against the Bella 1 involved tracking the vessel after it attempted to evade a blockade on sanctioned oil ships. The ship had been previously sanctioned in 2024 for allegedly smuggling cargo associated with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. On December 15, 2023, the vessel changed its course from the Caribbean toward Europe, shortly after a similar seizure of another tanker, the Skipper, which had left Venezuela with oil.
The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Munro played a key role in the operation, having tracked the Bella 1 under a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court. During this period, the vessel was renamed Marinera and flagged to Russia, with reports indicating that its crew had painted a Russian flag on the ship’s hull.
In the wake of the seizure, Russia’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern, stating that it was “following with concern the anomalous situation that has developed around the Russian oil tanker Marinera.” The ministry asserted that no state is entitled to use force against vessels registered under the jurisdictions of other nations, referencing the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
In a court appearance in New York, Maduro protested his capture and pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges. His legal team plans to contest the legality of what they describe as his “military abduction.” During the hearing, Maduro claimed, “I am here kidnapped since January 3,” asserting he was taken from his home in Caracas.
The unfolding situation highlights the complexities of U.S.-Venezuelan relations, particularly concerning oil trade and international sanctions, as the U.S. continues to assert its influence in global energy markets.
