Overview
- The Justice Department said an arrest warrant was executed on the tanker formerly known as Bella 1, which carried oil from Venezuela and Iran under U.S. sanctions.
- The crew allegedly tried to flee and ignored Coast Guard orders during the pursuit, and prosecutors plan criminal charges for sanctions violations and noncompliance.
- The vessel changed its name to Marinera and switched to a Russian flag during the chase, with U.S. authorities calling it a false‑flag, non‑national ship.
- European Command said the Marinera was seized in the North Atlantic between Iceland and the United Kingdom, and U.S. Southern Command reported a separate interception of the tanker Sofia in Caribbean waters.
- Russia asserted the ship had temporary Russian registration, while China condemned the U.S. action as a breach of international law, and DOJ said it is monitoring additional tankers for possible action.