US Military Says It Has Seized 2 Oil Tankers Linked to Venezuela

The M/V Bella 1, a Russian-flagged oil tanker, was seized in the Atlantic Ocean, officials say.

An undated photo uploaded by the U.S. European Command on Jan. 7, 2026, shows a U.S. Coast Guard official surveying a ship. US European Command via The Epoch Times

The U.S. military announced on Jan. 7 that it had seized two oil tankers in the Atlantic Ocean, including one linked to Venezuelan oil shipments, just days after an operation that led to the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

In a statement confirming the development, U.S. European Command wrote that the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and the Pentagon were involved in the operation to seize the M/V Bella 1, a Russian-flagged crude oil tanker.