The United States Navy is actively pursuing a fleet of over a dozen oil tankers that have been sanctioned by former President Donald Trump for unlawfully entering Venezuelan waters. This effort is part of a broader initiative to enforce sanctions against Venezuela, which has been met with strong opposition from the government in Caracas.
In a move that intensified tensions, Trump, just weeks before the apprehension of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, announced a ‘blockade’ targeting these sanctioned oil tankers. This policy was harshly criticized by Venezuelan authorities, who described it as an act of ‘theft.’ The blockade aims to prevent the movement of these tankers to and from Venezuela.
The U.S. Navy’s current mission involves intercepting a group of up to 16 tankers attempting to exit Venezuelan waters. So far, they have successfully boarded only one vessel during an operation on Wednesday, as reported by The New York Times.
In an effort to evade capture, at least one of the tankers has switched its flag to Russia and changed its name. Additionally, three more have registered under the Russian flag, while others are falsely reporting their positions to avoid detection.
In a dramatic turn of events on Wednesday, the U.S. confirmed the seizure of a Russian-flagged tanker linked to Venezuelan oil. This operation, reminiscent of a commando-style raid, marked the culmination of a relentless two-week pursuit across the Atlantic Ocean.
Amidst these developments, at least four ships have been observed making their way eastward across the Atlantic, with another five navigating through the Caribbean earlier this week. The situation remains fluid as the U.S. continues its efforts to enforce the sanctions.
The remaining free tanker was seen off the coast of Colombia and the remaining five have yet to be located.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Pentagon and US Southern Command for comment.
The United States Navy is on the hunt for a group of over a dozen oil tankers that have been sanctioned by Donald Trump after illegally entering Venezuelan waters
Wednesday, it was confirmed the US seized a Russian-flagged tanker linked to Venezuelan oil in a daring commando-style raid, after a more than two-week-long pursuit across the Atlantic
The United States seized a Russian-flagged tanker linked to Venezuelan oil in a daring commando-style raid, after a more than two-week-long pursuit across the Atlantic.
Dramatic photos in Russian media purportedly show a helicopter – believed to be an American MH-6 Little Bird – swooping close to the rogue vessel before it was captured by US forces around 124 miles south of the Icelandic coast.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that British troops provided support for the seizure of the Marinera today including ‘pre-planned operational support, including basing, to US military assets’.
The Marinera ship – originally known as the Bella-1 – made an abrupt turn Wednesday afternoon and was heading towards Britain, according to ship tracking data.
In a fresh humiliation for Vladimir Putin, the operation occurred in the vicinity of Russian military personnel.
Trump’s latest power play came after the Marinera slipped through a US maritime ‘blockade’ of sanctioned vessels and rebuffed US Coast Guard efforts to board it.
The operation, during which no American personnel were injured, is a show of strength against the Russian dictator – days after the US seized the ousted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in a lightning raid and threatened to takeover Greenland.
Russia’s foreign ministry begged the US to ‘ensure humane and dignified treatment’ of Russian citizens on board the vessel, and warning the US not to hamper their return to their homeland.
The tanker is the latest to be targeted by the US Coast Guard since the start of 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 was added to an official Russian ship database
At one point while being pursued, the crew of the vessel painted a Russian flag on its hull, claiming it was sailing under Russian protection, and Moscow made a formal diplomatic request that the US stop its chase.
The seizure of the Marinera occurred alongside a raid on a second Venezuela-linked oil tanker called the M/T Sophia.
A triumphant Trump took to Truth Social, writing: ‘The only Nation that China and Russia fear and respect is the DJT REBUILT U.S.A. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!’
This is a developing story.
