On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, U.S. European Command (EUCOM) announced on social media that, in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security, it had seized the sanctioned Russian fuel tanker M/V Bella 1, also known as Marinera, in the waters of the North Atlantic.
Photo: EUCOM
The vessel was seized pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after it was tracked by the Legend-class (National Security Cutter) USCGC Munro (WMSL-755). It had been pursued by U.S. forces since December 21, 2025, when the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) attempted to board the ship in the Caribbean Sea (at that time operating under the name Bella 1 and flying a false/outdated flag—previously Panama, Palau, Liberia, the Marshall Islands, and Guyana) while it was en route to Venezuela.
The ship’s crew refused to cooperate, altered course to evade seizure, and began fleeing. During this time, the crew painted a Russian flag on the hull, changed the vessel’s name to Marinera, and registered the ship in Russia (home port: Sochi).
From the beginning of January 2026, the vessel was officially entered into the Russian Maritime Register as a ship sailing under the flag of the Russian Federation. This was meant to provide protection against seizure, but the United States determined that the sanctions and the court order allowed action regardless of the change of flag (the ship belonged to the so-called Shadow Fleet transporting sanctioned oil). The pursuit continued across the Atlantic for more than two weeks – the vessel had been tracked since late December 2025, and in January 2026 Russia dispatched an escort (including, among others, a submarine).
Despite this, as reported earlier today by Russian state television RT, the Americans initiated a forcible takeover of the vessel when a light MH-6 Little Bird special operations support helicopter landed on deck. The aircraft belongs to the 160th (Airborne) Special Operations Aviation Regiment, the Night Stalkers, of the U.S. Army, operating under U.S. Special Operations Command (US SOCOM).
The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world. https://t.co/iTPUWqrFiB
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) January 7, 2026
— U.S. European Command (@US_EUCOM) January 7, 2026
In two predawn operations today, the Coast Guard conducted back-to-back meticulously coordinated boarding of two “ghost fleet” tanker ships— one in the North Atlantic Sea and one in international waters near the Caribbean. Both vessels —the Motor Tanker Bella I and the Motor… pic.twitter.com/EZlHEtcufX
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) January 7, 2026
Today, the UK has provided enabling support to the United States at their request to interdict the vessel Bella 1. pic.twitter.com/9QveMnwZBa
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) January 7, 2026
BREAKING: The United States is currently conducting an operation to seize the crude oil tanker Marinera. There is no additional information at this time regarding the status or involvement of any Russian escort vessels. pic.twitter.com/alcm50Y8U5
— GMI (@Global_Mil_Info) January 7, 2026
SCOOP – The United States is attempting to seize a Venezuela-linked oil tanker after a more two-week-long pursuit across the Atlantic
The seizure, which could stoke tensions with Russia, came after the tanker, originally known as the Bella-1, slipped through a U.S. maritime…— Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) January 7, 2026
— Russian Forces Spotter (@TiaFarris10) January 7, 2026
If true, where did the Little Birds come from? They have no air-air refueling capability. I was spit balling some basic math last night, about a 4.5 hour trip one-way to the Marinera from EGUN flight planning around 160 knots and multiple aerial refuelings with the C-130s.
This… pic.twitter.com/Nj1BKotbnm
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) January 7, 2026
MARINERA (9230880) just made a sudden southbound turn at 11:26 UTC at 60.9386, -16.37014. Decelerated from 9kn to 8kn speed. pic.twitter.com/dH8BnpF6r5
— TankerTrackers.com, Inc. (@TankerTrackers) January 7, 2026
U.S. forces boarded sanctioned oil tanker between Iceland and the British isles before Russian warships and a submarine could arrive, officials say. The tanker was previously called Bella 1, but had reflagged to become a Russian vessel.
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) January 7, 2026
Update
U.S. Southern Command (US SOUTHCOM) reported the detention in the Caribbean Sea of another tanker linked to Venezuela, the M/T Sophia.
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… pic.twitter.com/JQm9gHprPk
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) January 7, 2026