On Wednesday (January 7), United States seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic. According to reports, three Indian nationals were among the 28 crew members onboard. The vessel, currently named Marinera, was intercepted by US forces after being tracked from the Caribbean Sea, according to Russia Today (RT), mentioning Russia’s transport ministry. The tanker had previously been operating under the name Bella 1 and was chartered by a private trader. Although initially reported as Russian-flagged, RT said the ship was operating under the flag of Guyana at the time of the seizure. The multinational crew reportedly included 17 Ukrainians, six Georgians, three Indians, two Russians, and other personnel.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-it-s-the-energy-greed-of-north-venezuela-s-interim-president-slams-us-for-drugs-democracy-falsehoods-1767887211995">‘It’s the energy greed of North’: Venezuela’s interim president slams US for drugs, democracy falsehoods</a>&nbsp;US authorities said the tanker was seized due to its alleged links to Venezuela, which remains under strict US sanctions. According to news agency Reuters, the vessel had evaded a US maritime blockade of sanctioned tankers and ignored repeated attempts by the US Coast Guard to board it. Two US officials told Reuters that the operation involved both the Coast Guard and the US military, marking what appears to be the first seizure of a Russian-flagged vessel by US forces in recent years.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/earth-s-magnetic-shield-weakens-as-mysterious-weak-spot-grows-threatening-satellites-1767889260157/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/earth-s-magnetic-shield-weakens-as-mysterious-weak-spot-grows-threatening-satellites-1767889260157/embed</a>&nbsp;Russia’s transport ministry said it lost all contact with the tanker after US naval forces boarded it. Images aired by RT showed a helicopter hovering above the vessel, suggesting an active boarding operation. A senior Russian lawmaker, Andrei Klishas of the ruling United Russia party, condemned the action as “outright piracy,” according to the TASS news agency. The US later confirmed it had seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela, Bella 1 (now Marinera) and M Sophia, a Panama-flagged vessel described as a “stateless, sanctioned dark fleet tanker.” US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said the Coast Guard conducted “meticulously coordinated” boardings of both vessels, adding that Bella 1 had attempted to evade authorities by changing its name and flag.

3 Indian nationals among crew in Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela seized by US: Reports

On Wednesday (January 7), United States seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic. According to reports, three Indian nationals were among the 28 crew members onboard. The vessel, currently named Marinera, was intercepted by US forces after being tracked from the Caribbean Sea, according to Russia Today (RT), mentioning Russia’s transport ministry. The tanker had previously been operating under the name Bella 1 and was chartered by a private trader. Although initially reported as Russian-flagged, RT said the ship was operating under the flag of Guyana at the time of the seizure. The multinational crew reportedly included 17 Ukrainians, six Georgians, three Indians, two Russians, and other personnel. Also Read: ‘It’s the energy greed of North’: Venezuela’s interim president slams US for drugs, democracy falsehoods US authorities said the tanker was seized due to its alleged links to Venezuela, which remains under strict US sanctions. According to news agency Reuters, the vessel had evaded a US maritime blockade of sanctioned tankers and ignored repeated attempts by the US Coast Guard to board it. Two US officials told Reuters that the operation involved both the Coast Guard and the US military, marking what appears to be the first seizure of a Russian-flagged vessel by US forces in recent years. https://www.wionews.com/videos/earth-s-magnetic-shield-weakens-as-mysterious-weak-spot-grows-threatening-satellites-1767889260157/embed Russia’s transport ministry said it lost all contact with the tanker after US naval forces boarded it. Images aired by RT showed a helicopter hovering above the vessel, suggesting an active boarding operation. A senior Russian lawmaker, Andrei Klishas of the ruling United Russia party, condemned the action as “outright piracy,” according to the TASS news agency. The US later confirmed it had seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela, Bella 1 (now Marinera) and M Sophia, a Panama-flagged vessel described as a “stateless, sanctioned dark fleet tanker.” US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said the Coast Guard conducted “meticulously coordinated” boardings of both vessels, adding that Bella 1 had attempted to evade authorities by changing its name and flag.

Three Indian nationals are among 28 crew members aboard the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera, which was seized by US forces over alleged links to Venezuela

The United States has seized a second oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, as per the US Southern Command, marking another escalation in Washington’s efforts to crack down on illicit maritime oil trade. The vessel, identified as M/T Sophia, was intercepted during a pre-dawn operation in international waters. US officials described the tanker as a stateless, sanctioned “dark fleet” ship allegedly involved in illegal activities. The US Coast Guard has taken control of the vessel and is escorting it to the United States, where authorities will determine its final disposition.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-slams-us-demand-for-venezuela-oil-exclusively-calls-it-typical-bullying-1767794505500">China slams US demand for Venezuela oil exclusively, calls it ‘typical bullying’</a>&nbsp;Southern Command said the operation was carried out jointly by the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. Officials said that the tanker lacked a legitimate national registry at the time of interception, a factor that contributed to its classification as stateless under international maritime law. The seizure follows weeks of US pursuit tied to a separate tanker previously known as Marinera. That vessel was initially targeted last month in the Caribbean when it was suspected of transporting sanctioned oil shipments believed to be linked to Iran and Venezuela. After evading an attempted boarding, the tanker reportedly altered its route, changed its name, and re-registered under a Russian flag, having earlier falsely claimed Guyanese registration.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">In a pre-dawn action this morning, the Department of War, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker without incident. The interdicted vessel, M/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and… <a href="https://t.co/JQm9gHprPk">pic.twitter.com/JQm9gHprPk</a>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2008905619424620879?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Pete Hegseth, in a post on X, said, “The United States continues to enforce the blockade against all dark fleet vessels illegally transporting Venezuelan oil to finance illicit activity, stealing from the Venezuelan people. Only legitimate and lawful energy commerce—as determined by the U.S.—will be permitted.”&nbsp;US authorities allege the vessel has a history of transporting Venezuelan crude oil, though it was believed to be empty at the time of the seizure. During its flight from enforcement, the ship was tracked across the North Atlantic, with reports suggesting Russia deployed a submarine to assist in its escort.&nbsp;Tracking data showed the tanker abruptly shifted course southward and slowed to approximately eight knots earlier this week, placing it roughly 200 kilometers south of Iceland before US forces intervened. Southern Command reiterated that the tanker was engaged in illicit operations at the time of the interdiction. The latest seizure comes amid heightened US scrutiny of oil shipments tied to sanctioned states, including Russia and Venezuela, as Washington intensifies enforcement against vessels attempting to bypass international restrictions.<h2>Moscow slams US over use of force</h2>Moscow on Wednesday (January 7) condemned the United States following the seizure of a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic, after US forces tracked the vessel from the coast of Venezuela. "In accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation applies in waters on the high seas, and no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered under the jurisdiction of other states," Russia's transport ministry said in a statement.<h2>Tanker was ‘our vessel’, says Russia</h2>Russia's Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the situation surrounding the Russian oil tanker Marinera before its seizure. The ministry's statement, which was reported by the Tass news agency, said that a US Coast Guard vessel had been trailing the Marinera for several days, despite the tanker being located roughly 4,000 km from the US coastline. On Wednesday, maritime tracking platforms indicated that the ship was situated between Scotland and Iceland, heading north. A US official later verified that the vessel was indeed in the North Atlantic.

US seizes second Venezuela-linked oil tanker in Caribbean Sea; Moscow slams US over use of force

The United States has seized a second oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, as per the US Southern Command, marking another escalation in Washington’s efforts to crack down on illicit maritime oil trade. The vessel, identified as M/T Sophia, was intercepted during a pre-dawn operation in international waters. US officials described the tanker as a stateless, sanctioned “dark fleet” ship allegedly involved in illegal activities. The US Coast Guard has taken control of the vessel and is escorting it to the United States, where authorities will determine its final disposition. Also Read: China slams US demand for Venezuela oil exclusively, calls it ‘typical bullying’ Southern Command said the operation was carried out jointly by the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. Officials said that the tanker lacked a legitimate national registry at the time of interception, a factor that contributed to its classification as stateless under international maritime law. The seizure follows weeks of US pursuit tied to a separate tanker previously known as Marinera. That vessel was initially targeted last month in the Caribbean when it was suspected of transporting sanctioned oil shipments believed to be linked to Iran and Venezuela. After evading an attempted boarding, the tanker reportedly altered its route, changed its name, and re-registered under a Russian flag, having earlier falsely claimed Guyanese registration.

US forces have seized the sanctioned tanker M/T Sophia in the Caribbean Sea, alleging illicit activities; it’s now being escorted to the US after prior pursuit of another vessel

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3 Indian nationals among crew in Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela seized by US: Reports

US seizes second Venezuela-linked oil tanker in Caribbean Sea; Moscow slams US