Coast Guard operation targets alleged sanctions evasion
The United States Coast Guard is pursuing a tanker in international waters near Venezuela after an attempted interception, according to US officials. The operation reflects a tightening crackdown by the administration of President Donald Trump on Venezuela’s oil industry.
The vessel, identified as Bella 1, was sailing toward Venezuela to load crude oil. US authorities say the tanker is sanctioned for links to Iranian oil shipments and is part of a so called shadow fleet used to move oil from sanctioned countries. A judicial warrant had been issued for its seizure.
Boarding attempt leads to pursuit
US officials said Coast Guard personnel attempted to board the Bella 1, but the ship continued sailing, prompting an active pursuit. A second US official said the vessel was operating under a false flag and was already subject to a seizure order.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the operation is ongoing.
Second interdiction in two days
The pursuit follows another operation a day earlier, when the Coast Guard intercepted the tanker Centuries in international waters off Venezuela. The White House said the Centuries was carrying sanctioned Venezuelan oil, even though the ship itself was not formally listed under US sanctions.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted video footage showing a helicopter hovering over the Centuries tanker, describing the action as a predawn interdiction supported by the Defense Department. She said the tanker had last docked in Venezuela.
Pressure campaign against Caracas
The interceptions mark an escalation in Washington’s efforts to pressure Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Trump has accused Maduro’s government of funding narcotics trafficking and illegal migration through oil revenues.
Last week, Trump ordered what he described as a complete blockade of sanctioned tankers moving in and out of Venezuela, aiming to cut off the country’s main source of income. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but production remains far below capacity due to international sanctions.
International backlash from Venezuela and China
Venezuela condemned the actions, calling them a reckless threat. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said Caracas would raise the issue at the United Nations Security Council and other international forums.
China also criticized the seizures. A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry said the US actions violate international law and emphasized Venezuela’s right to pursue independent economic cooperation.
Shipping data and market impact
Energy analytics firm Kpler said the Centuries tanker was carrying about two million barrels of crude oil and had recently loaded at Venezuela’s Jose Oil Terminal. Satellite imagery showed the ship traveling toward Asia before it was seized.
Analysts expect limited impact on global oil prices, as most Venezuelan crude targeted by US actions is destined for China, which remains the primary buyer willing to accept sanctioned oil.
Bella 1 history under scrutiny
According to Kpler, the Bella 1 was sailing without cargo at the time of the pursuit. The tanker was sanctioned by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control in June 2024 for alleged involvement in transporting Iranian oil. The vessel is listed as having a missing flag by the International Maritime Organization.
Prior to its Atlantic crossing, Bella 1 reportedly loaded crude at Iran’s Kharg Island and switched off its tracking system during the operation, a common practice among vessels handling sanctioned oil.
