The United States says it has taken custody of the Bella-1, a Russian-flagged oil tanker with reported links to Venezuela, following a weeks-long pursuit across the Atlantic Ocean.
In a post on X on Wednesday, US European Command stated that the vessel was seized over alleged violations of US sanctions. According to US authorities, the tanker had previously been designated in 2024 for its suspected involvement in what Washington describes as a “shadow fleet” used to transport oil in circumvention of sanctions.
US officials said efforts to detain the ship began last month when the Bella-1 was operating near Venezuelan waters. Those initial attempts were unsuccessful after the tanker changed course and departed the area.
During the subsequent pursuit, US officials noted that a Russian flag appeared to have been painted on the vessel’s hull. Crew members reportedly claimed the ship was operating under Russian protection, though no independent confirmation of that claim has been provided.
The US has not released further details on the current status of the vessel or its crew.
Credit: TheCable
