In a significant escalation of international sanctions enforcement, the United States has seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela in back-to-back naval operations. The actions, which occurred on Wednesday 7 January 2026, have drawn a furious response from Moscow, with one senior Russian politician denouncing the moves as "outright piracy".
Dual Interceptions in Atlantic and Caribbean
The first vessel, the Marinera (originally named Bella 1), was boarded by US forces in the North Atlantic, in waters between Iceland and Scotland. The tanker was reportedly heading towards Russia. According to US officials, a Russian submarine and warship were in close proximity during the operation.
In a near-simultaneous raid, US special forces intercepted a second tanker, the M Sophia, near the northeast coast of South America. Dramatic footage showed forces fast-roping from a helicopter to take control of the Panama-flagged vessel, which had its tracking transponder switched off.
The 'Ghost Fleet' and Sanctions Evasion
Both ships are identified as part of a so-called "ghost fleet" used to transport oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela in defiance of Western sanctions, primarily to customers in Asia. US Homeland Security advisor Kristi Noem confirmed this link.
The Marinera had a particularly "nefarious history", according to UK Defence Secretary John Healey. He stated the vessel was "part of a Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion which is fuelling terrorism, conflict, and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine". The ship was sanctioned in 2024 for allegedly smuggling cargo for a company linked to Hezbollah.
International Reactions and UK Involvement
Russia's transport ministry called the seizure of the Marinera illegal, arguing it occurred outside any country's territorial waters and violated the principle of freedom of navigation. The foreign ministry demanded the rights of Russian citizens on board be respected.
The United Kingdom played a supporting role in the North Atlantic operation. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that RFA Tideforce provided refuelling support and the RAF conducted aerial surveillance. Mr Healey praised UK forces for their "skill and professionalism" in aiding the successful US interception.
These seizures follow the dramatic capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US special forces days earlier. In response, the US has announced a selective rollback of sanctions on blockaded Venezuelan oil, allowing it to be sold globally with proceeds distributed at the discretion of President Trump's government.
