United States forces have intercepted a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuela after tracking the vessel across the Atlantic Ocean for nearly three weeks, according to U.S. officials and major American media outlets.

The U.S. Coast Guard successfully boarded the tanker Marinera, formerly known as Bella 1, after it attempted to evade interception by altering its name, repainting a Russian flag on its hull, and changing its registration. The vessel had previously resisted a U.S. boarding attempt in December while en route to load crude oil in Venezuela.

Officials confirmed that the boarding was carried out without resistance and that no Russian naval vessels were present in the area at the time. Reports from The Wall Street Journal indicated that Russia had previously deployed a submarine to escort the tanker and urged Washington to halt its pursuit.

Third tanker seized amid pressure campaign

The Marinera is the third oil tanker connected to Venezuela’s so-called “dark fleet” seized by the United States in recent weeks. These vessels are accused of transporting sanctioned crude oil through deceptive practices such as false flags and altered documentation.

In a separate operation, U.S. Southern Command confirmed the interception of another sanctioned tanker, the M/T Sophia, operating illicitly in the Caribbean under a false Cameroonian flag. The vessel is being escorted to the United States for final disposition as part of Operation Southern Lance, a renewed maritime crackdown launched by the Trump administration.

Russia and UK react

Russia’s Ministry of Transport condemned the interception as “illegal,” arguing that the tanker was operating under a valid Russian flag and that the action violated international maritime law. The United Kingdom, however, confirmed it provided operational support to U.S. forces during the interception near the North Atlantic.

Broader geopolitical context

The seizures come amid heightened U.S. pressure on Venezuela following the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro, now jailed in New York on narcotrafficking charges. President Donald Trump has stated that Venezuela will deliver between 30 and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the U.S. as part of ongoing negotiations.

U.S. lawmakers are receiving classified briefings on the Venezuela operation, while the administration signals an increasingly assertive global posture, including renewed discussions regarding Greenland’s strategic importance.