US military forces have seized the Russian oil tanker Marinera in the North Atlantic after a pursuit lasting more than two weeks. The US European Command stated that the tanker was intercepted for violating Washington-imposed sanctions. The operation was conducted jointly by the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and Defense, with officials emphasizing that the action was taken to safeguard US national interests.
Reports indicate that Russian naval forces were deployed to protect the tanker, but no direct confrontation occurred between US and Russian forces. The vessel had been under US restrictions since 2024 due to allegations of smuggling on behalf of a company linked to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
BREAKING WORLD EXCLUSIVE: RT obtains FIRST footage of Russian-flagged civilian Marinera tanker being CHASED by US Coast Guard warship in the North Atlantic https://t.co/sNbqJkm5O5 pic.twitter.com/XtbBML3a6j
— RT (@RT_com) January 6, 2026
Originally named Bella 1, the tanker was attempting to travel from Iran to Venezuela while evading sanctions. It was later renamed Marinera and reflagged under Russia, officially registered in the Russian shipping registry, and continued operations in the Atlantic under the Russian flag.
Following the seizure, Russian state media released photos showing a helicopter near the tanker, though the images were unclear. Separately, Reuters reported that the US Coast Guard intercepted another tanker linked to Venezuela in Latin American waters, reflecting ongoing US enforcement of sanctions in the region.