The United States European Command has confirmed the seizure of an oil tanker for violating United States sanctions, marking the latest enforcement action against vessels accused of evading American restrictions.

 

The tanker, originally identified as M/V Bella 1, had reportedly been renamed Marinera and was sailing under a Russian flag while attempting to evade US authorities in the Atlantic Ocean.

 

 

Reports indicate that the vessel had previously operated under a Guyana flag before the change.

 

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Command disclosed that the seizure was carried out in coordination with multiple US agencies.

 

The command wrote: “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.

 

“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.”

 

This comes barely a day after Venezuela and American officials discussed the potential export of Venezuelan crude to the U.S.

 

“Venezuelan and U.S. officials are discussing exporting Venezuelan crude to the United States,” five government, industry and shipping sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

 

According to the report, the talks focused on U.S. refineries along the Gulf Coast, which are capable of processing Venezuela’s heavy crude and had imported it in the past.

 

“U.S. refineries on the Gulf Coast can process Venezuela’s crude and have imported it in the past, before the U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuela,” the exclusive report said.

 

The discussions followed a period when sanctions restricted Venezuelan crude exports to the U.S.

 

In early January 2026, U.S. forces carried out a controversial operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

 

The U.S. justified its military operation against President Maduro by accusing him of drug trafficking and narco‑terrorism.

 

Federal indictments alleged that Maduro’s government helped ship tons of cocaine into the U.S., and these charges were used as the legal basis for his capture.

 

Afterwards, President Donald Trump openly stated that the U.S. intended to reassert control over Venezuela’s oil industry, claiming it was originally built with American investment and accusing Maduro’s government of seizing U.S. energy assets.

 

In one statement, Trump bluntly said the U.S. would “run Venezuela and take over its oil” following Maduro’s arrest.

 

In his first public comments after being taken to the U.S., Maduro described himself as “kidnapped” and insisted he was innocent