What we know about US seizure of Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela

The US has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker with links to Venezuela.

The sanctioned tanker, originally known as the Bella 1 and now called the Marinera, is now in US custody, a US official has confirmed.

Here's everything we know so far.

US forces boarded the tanker in the North Atlantic, between Iceland and Scotland as it was travelling north.

A Russian submarine and warship were close by, two US officials told Reuters.

A US official told the Associated Press the military seized the vessel and handed over control to law enforcement officials.

The US has been pursuing the tanker for two weeks since it slipped through a maritime "blockade" around Venezuela.

It was sanctioned by the US in 2024 for allegedly smuggling cargo for a company linked to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The US Coast Guard initially attempted to intercept the vessel last month, but it refused to be boarded.

It has since registered under a Russian flag; when it left the Caribbean, it was sailing under a Guyana flag.

Before the US seized the vessel, Russia's foreign ministry said the tanker was in international waters and was acting according to international maritime law, according to Russian state broadcaster RT.

The ministry said the ship was flying the Russian flag and called on Western countries to respect its right to freedom of navigation.

Events come after Venezuela's president 'captured'

It is the latest tanker to be targeted by the US Coast Guard since Donald Trump's campaign to put pressure on Venezuela.

The seizure came days after US special forces launched a dawn raid into Caracas to capture Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro, and take him to the United States.

He was then turned over to federal authorities for prosecution on charges involving alleged drug trafficking.

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