US Forces Plan to Intercept Oil Tanker Carrying Venezuelan Crude Oil
The United States is planning to intercept an oil tanker that has been evading capture, according to two US officials with knowledge of the plans. The tanker, named Marinera, has historically carried Venezuelan crude oil and was sanctioned by the Treasury Department. This move is part of the US pressure campaign against Venezuela, which has been ongoing since September.
US forces have been pursuing the Marinera, formerly known as the Bella 1, since last month. The US has accused the Venezuelan government, led by former President Nicolás Maduro, of using multiple vessels to move drugs north towards American shores. Two US intelligence officials also reported that Venezuelan officials had discussed placing armed military personnel on tankers, disguising them as civilians, as well as portable Soviet-era air defense systems.
Background and Context
The Marinera was previously flagged out of Panama and was sanctioned by the Treasury Department in 2024 for its prior involvement in Iranian oil trading. The ship is now sailing under the Russian flag, which could complicate sensitive talks between the US and Russia over ending the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine. The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping lists the tanker as being ported out of Sochi, off the western coast of the Black Sea.
The US has been increasing pressure on Venezuela, with President Trump unilaterally imposing a “total and complete blockade” on already sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers on December 16. The US has also seized several oil tankers, including The Skipper, which was sanctioned by the Treasury Department in 2022 for its alleged role in an oil smuggling network that helped fund the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah.
Implications and Next Steps
The planned interception of the Marinera is part of a larger effort by the US to disrupt the flow of oil from sanctioned nations like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. The US has been working to seize or sink ships that are part of a so-called shadow fleet of vessels that illegally transport oil. If the Marinera is captured, it would be the third oil tanker seized by the US since it began its campaign against Venezuela in early September.
The New York Times reported that at least 16 oil tankers have attempted to evade the US naval blockade by disguising their geographical locations or turning off their transmission beacons. The Russian government has officially asked the US to stop all attempts to interdict the ship. The US officials spoke under condition of anonymity to discuss national security matters, and the White House, Pentagon, and State Department did not respond to requests for comment.
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