U.S. Intensifies Action Against “Ghost Fleet” Oil Tankers with Coordinated Raids
The U.S. government has seized two oil tankers that are under sanctions during separate operations in the North Atlantic and Caribbean Sea. This action represents a significant escalation in efforts against ships accused of supporting illegal oil networks linked to Venezuela.
Both vessels had recently left Venezuela or were on their way there, according to Kristi Noem, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
“In two carefully coordinated operations early today, the Coast Guard boarded two ‘ghost fleet’ tankers—one in the North Atlantic and another in international waters near the Caribbean,” Noem said. “The ships, the Motor Tanker Bella I and the Motor Tanker Sophia, were either last docked in Venezuela or were heading there.”
Videos shared online show U.S. forces landing on the tankers' decks via helicopter during the seizures.
The U.S. European Command confirmed that the M/T Marinera, previously known as Bella 1, was captured in the North Atlantic after weeks of being pursued by the Coast Guard cutter Munro. “The vessel was seized in accordance with a federal court warrant and had been tracked by the USCGC Munro,” the command stated.
UK forces aided the operation by providing “planned operational support, including basing.”
“RFA Tideforce supported U.S. forces in intercepting the Bella 1, while the RAF offered air surveillance,” the UK Ministry of Defence announced. “The security relationship between the UK and the U.S. is the strongest globally, and the UK supported this operation within international law.”
The seizure of Marinera followed an intense chase that started on December 20 when the tanker, then called Bella 1, ignored Coast Guard orders to stop in the Caribbean and fled into the Atlantic. During the chase, the vessel tried to evade capture by switching its registration to Russia and repainting with a crude Russian flag.
U.S. officials stated that the last-minute reflagging was irrelevant because the tanker was operating without a valid flag when first approached, making it effectively stateless under international law and subject to be stopped. The vessel is currently not carrying oil.
“One of the tankers, Motor Tanker Bella I, has been trying to escape the Coast Guard for weeks, even changing its flag and repainting its name while being pursued, in a failed attempt to avoid accountability,” Noem said. “The brave crew of the USCGC Munro chased this vessel across dangerous waters, diligently protecting our country with commitment and pride.”
Shortly after, U.S. Southern Command reported another early morning operation in the Caribbean Sea, where the Department of War and the Department of Homeland Security apprehended the M/T Sophia “without incident.” The command mentioned that the ship was “operating in international waters and involved in illegal activities.”
“With Operation Southern Spear, the Department of War is committed to fighting illegal activities in the Western Hemisphere,” Southern Command stated. “We will protect our homeland and work to restore security throughout the Americas.”
The Coast Guard is now escorting the M/T Sophia to the United States for further action.
Background on Sanctions
In June 2024, Bella I was officially blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury for transporting oil on behalf of networks linked to Hezbollah and Iran’s IRGC-Qods Force. Its owner was sanctioned under Executive Order 13224, the primary counter-terrorism law.
The Sophia, also referred to as M Sophia (IMO 9289477), was sanctioned on January 10, 2025, during a major crackdown on Russia’s “shadow fleet”—vessels used to transport Russian crude oil despite Western restrictions. The Office of Foreign Assets Control connected the tanker to Sunne Co Limited, a company linked to Russia’s energy sector, labeling the M Sophia as blocked property.
Alongside numerous other “shadow fleet” tankers accused of facilitating Russia's oil exports above the G7 price cap through concealed ownership and risky shipping practices, Sophia was sanctioned as well.
“The U.S. is continuing its efforts to block all dark fleet vessels illegally transporting Venezuelan oil that finances illicit activities and steals from the Venezuelan people. Only lawful energy commerce, as recognized by the U.S., will be allowed,” said Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth in a tweet on Wednesday.
According to TankerTrackers.com, Marinera (Bella 1) transported over 20 million barrels of Iranian and Venezuelan crude between 2021 and 2025, mostly through ship-to-ship transfers to China, but is currently empty. The M/T Sophia was reportedly carrying about 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan crude and had “managed to bypass the blockade along with 15 other tankers right after Maduro’s arrest.”
The seizures on January 7 brought the total number of tankers seized by U.S. authorities to four within a month. On December 10, officials seized the VLCC Skipper, which was carrying 1.85 million barrels of Venezuelan crude. Ten days later, the Centuries—a non-sanctioned vessel—was also captured with 1.83 million barrels onboard.
This increase in enforcement follows the Trump administration's announcement that Venezuela’s interim government has consented to transfer between 30 million and 50 million barrels of sanctioned crude oil to the United States. President Trump stated that the oil would be “sold at the market price, and the proceeds will be controlled by me, as President of the United States, to ensure it benefits the people of Venezuela and the U.S.”
Last month, the U.S. imposed a blockade on sanctioned tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan waters, effectively stopping most exports except for those carried by Chevron under a special authorization by the government.
This broader enforcement effort has paralyzed Venezuela’s oil exports, with state-owned PDVSA halting shipments to its main Chinese buyers for several days in a row.
The recent operations reflect a significant shift in U.S. maritime enforcement, as authorities are now willing to pursue and capture sanctioned vessels in international waters, despite potential diplomatic backlash. Russia's formal complaint about the pursuit of Marinera, presented to the State Department on New Year's Eve, appears to have had little effect on Washington's resolve.
With storage tanks at Venezuelan ports nearly full and PDVSA facing further production cuts, transferring tens of millions of barrels to the United States could relieve immediate supply issues while redirecting Venezuelan oil streams away from Asia and into U.S. control for the first time in decades.