WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 7, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — The U.S. Department of Defense reports that a Russian-flagged tanker linked to Venezuela has been seized by the U.S. military in the North Atlantic.
News of the seizure was first announced on social media by the U.S. European Command early Wednesday morning.
According to the post, which appeared on X, “The @TheJusticeDept & @DHSgov, in coordination with the @DeptofWar today announced the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violations of U.S. sanctions. The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro.”
The seizure, reported on the southern coast of Iceland, is the culmination of a weeks-long pursuit across the Atlantic which started off the coast of Venezuela in late December.
During the course of the journey, Russia claimed the vessel as its own. Its name was changed to the Marinera and Moscow reportedly dispatched support vessels, including a submarine during the course of the transatlantic pursuit.
In a second social media post, the U.S. European Command said, “This seizure supports @POTUS Proclamation targeting sanctioned vessels that threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere. The operation was executed by DHS components with support from @DeptofWar, showcasing a whole-of-government approach to protect the homeland.”
According to the Russian controlled news outlet RT, the Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday addressed what it called an “abnormal situation” surrounding the vessel.
“For reasons unknown to us, the Russian vessel is getting excessive attention from the U.S. and NATO militaries, clearly disproportionate to its peaceful status.”
Shortly after the seizure of the Marinera, the U.S. Southern Command announced on X that it had seized a second tanker. According to the post, the vessel was boarded during a pre-dawn action in the Caribbean.
‘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 conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. Coast Guard is escorting M/T Sophia to the U.S. for final disposition.”
Gephardt Daily will update this developing story as more information becomes available.
