U.S. seizes 2 sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela in North Atlantic, Caribbean (www.cbc.ca)
from HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works to world@lemmy.world on 07 Jan 2026 16:40
https://sh.itjust.works/post/52994876

The U.S. has seized two sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela in back-to-back actions in the North Atlantic and Caribbean, officials revealed early on Wednesday morning.

U.S. European Command announced the seizure of the merchant vessel Bella 1 for “violations of U.S. sanctions” in a social medial post. The U.S. had been pursuing the tanker since last month, after it tried to evade a U.S. blockade on sanctioned oil vessels around Venezuela.

Then, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem revealed that U.S. forces also took control of the tanker Sophia in the Caribbean in a social media post. Noem said both ships were “either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it.”

The U.S. military seized the Bella 1 and subsequently handed over control of it to law enforcement officials, said a U.S. official, who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations.

#world