The United States has successfully captured an oil tanker with ties to Venezuela following an extensive pursuit lasting over two weeks across the Atlantic Ocean.

This operation, which may heighten diplomatic tensions with Russia, concluded after the tanker, known as Marinera, previously identified as Bella-1, managed to evade a US-imposed maritime blockade targeting sanctioned vessels and resisted attempts by the US Coast Guard to board it.

According to officials who preferred to remain unnamed, the mission was accomplished with the collaborative efforts of the Coast Guard and US military forces.

Images circulated by Russian media today appear to show a helicopter approaching the vessel.

The helicopter is believed to be an American MH-6 Little Bird.

American officials added that Russian military vessels were in the general vicinity when the operation took place, including a Russian submarine.

The tanker is the latest to be targeted by the ⁠US Coast Guard since the start of Donald Trump’s pressure campaign against Venezuela.  

Last month, the US Coast Guard attempted to board it in the Caribbean, armed with a warrant to seize the ship over alleged breaches of US sanctions and claims it had shipped Iranian oil.

However, the tanker then abruptly changed course, renamed itself Marinera and reportedly reflagged from Guyana to Russia.

Pictures in Russian media purportedly showed helicopters approaching the vessel today

American officials added that Russian military vessels were in the general vicinity when the operation took place, including a Russian submarine

The vessel tanker Bella 1 at Singapore Strait, after U.S. officials say the U.S. Coast Guard pursued an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, in this picture taken from social media on March 18, 2025

The latest location data from the vessel showed it made an abrupt turn to the south and slowed to just eight knots, starting at 11:26am GMT. 

It is now around 124 miles south of Iceland.  

Earlier, the Daily Mail reported that British Typhoons were scrambled to intercept the vessel. 

It is not currently known whether the UK was involved in the storming of the tanker. The Daily Mail has contacted the Ministry of Defence for comment. 

Downing Street has refused to comment on the matter, or whether British military bases were used in the operation. 

Trump last month said he had ordered a ‘blockade’ of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, a policy the government in Caracas branded ‘theft’. 

In the run-up to the US seizure of the country’s former leader Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, Trump repeatedly accused Venezuela’s government of using ships to smuggle drugs into the US.

Two US officials told CBS News on Tuesday that American forces were planning to board the Marinera and that Washington would prefer to seize the vessel rather than sink it.

Moscow’s Foreign Ministry earlier said it expects Western countries to respect principles of freedom of navigation. 

In the run-up to the US seizure of the country’s former leader Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, Trump repeatedly accused Venezuela’s government of using ships to smuggle drugs into the US.

Two US officials told CBS News on Tuesday that American forces were planning to board the Marinera and that Washington would prefer to seize the vessel rather than sink it.

Moscow’s Foreign Ministry says it expects Western countries to respect principles of freedom of navigation. 

Russia has dispatched navy assets to protect a sanctioned oil tanker as it crosses the Atlantic, amid mounting threats from the US to seize the vessel

Footage posted by Russian television network RT purports to show a US Coast Guard cutter chasing the Russian-flagged oil tanker

Separately, the US Coast Guard has also intercepted another Venezuela-linked tanker in ‍Latin American waters, ⁠US officials said, as the US continues enforcing a maritime ‘blockade’ of sanctioned vessels from Venezuela. 

Footage posted earlier by Russian television network RT purports to show a US Coast Guard cutter chasing the Marinera, which started its journey in Iran.

The tanker’s north Atlantic position, combined with rough weather and long distances from land, is thought to be making any boarding operation difficult. 

AIS tracking data, which can be spoofed or falsified, suggested the ship was around 2,000km (1,200 miles) west of continental Europe on Tuesday.

More to follow.