The United States has executed two significant maritime seizures in the past 24 hours, targeting oil tankers linked to Venezuela in a dramatic escalation of its sanctions enforcement. The most prominent incident involved the capture of a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic, an operation supported by British Royal Air Force surveillance.
Operation in the North Atlantic: A Coordinated Seizure
On Wednesday 7 January 2026, US forces boarded the oil tanker Marinera, formerly known as the Bella 1, in international waters between Iceland and Scotland. According to US officials speaking to Reuters, a Russian submarine and warship were operating close to the vessel at the time. The US military took control of the ship before handing it over to law enforcement agencies.
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth stated on social media platform X that "The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT - anywhere in the world." The vessel had been pursued for two weeks after evading a maritime blockade around Venezuela and was sanctioned by the US in 2024 for allegedly smuggling cargo for a company tied to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
UK Involvement and a Second Caribbean Seizure
The operation had a direct British component. Reports from The i newspaper indicate that RAF surveillance planes monitored the tanker as it transited waters between Iceland and the UK. Furthermore, UK airbases were reportedly used to launch US military aircraft involved in the mission. Sky News OSINT analysis tracked US Air Force special operations aircraft departing from Wick Airport in Scotland heading towards Iceland.
In a separate but related action, the US Coast Guard intercepted another Venezuela-linked vessel, the Panama-flagged supertanker M Sophia, in Caribbean waters. This ship, also under US sanctions, was part of a fleet carrying Venezuelan oil to China.
International Reactions and Broader Context
Russia has strongly condemned the seizure of the Marinera. Prior to the action, its foreign ministry asserted the tanker was operating legally in international waters under the Russian flag. Following the capture, Russia's transport ministry declared that "no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states."
This maritime crackdown follows the dramatic capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US special forces in Caracas days earlier, who was taken to the United States to face drug trafficking charges. In a statement on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump commented on broader alliances, stating, "Russia and China have zero fear of NATO without the United States."
The UK Ministry of Defence has not yet provided an official comment on its role in the North Atlantic operation.
