U.S. forces seized the Russian-linked tanker Marinera in the North Atlantic on Jan. 7, 2026, as part of efforts to stop sanctioned oil shipments.

U.S. forces seized the Russian-flagged, Venezuela-linked oil tanker Marinera—formerly Bella-1—in the North Atlantic on January 7, 2026, following a two-week pursuit. The operation, conducted with British support including RAF surveillance and the RFA Tideforce, involved boarding teams and was carried out under a federal court warrant. The vessel, part of a shadow fleet evading sanctions, had altered its flag and name to avoid detection. The U.S. also seized another vessel, the Sophia, in the Caribbean. The move is part of a broader effort to disrupt illicit oil shipments tied to sanctioned regimes, amid heightened tensions with Russia and rising geopolitical instability.