This was the approach by the United States Coast Guard to two Russian oil tankers linked to the Maduro regime

“One in the North Atlantic and another in international waters near the Caribbean. Both vessels—the tanker Bella I and the tanker Sophia— were docked in Venezuela or en route to that country,” Noem explained.

According to the US secretary, the Bella I had been “trying to evade the Coast Guard for weeks, changing its flag and painting a new name on the hull while being pursued, in a desperate and failed attempt to evade justice.”

“The heroic crew of the USCGC Munro pursued this ship on the high seas and through dangerous storms, diligently watching and protecting our country with the determination and patriotism that make Americans proud. These brave men and women deserve our nation’s gratitude for their selfless devotion to duty,” he said.

And he warned: “The world’s criminals are on notice. They can flee, but they cannot hide. We will never give up on our mission to protect the American people and disrupt narcoterrorist financing wherever we find it, period.”

The operation occurred shortly after press reports that Russia sent at least one submarine to escort the officially empty ship.

“The @TheJusticeDept and @DHSgov, in coordination with the @DeptofWar announced today the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violations of US sanctions. The ship was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to an order issued by a US federal court after being tracked by the USCGC Munro,” the US European Command said on social media.

About him Sophiathe other ship seized, a U.S. official said was falsely flying the Cameroonian flag, according to the New York Times.

He Bella 1renamed Marinera, changed its name, flag and registration during the escape.

Sanctions from the United States Department of the Treasury fell on the Marinera tanker, flying the Panamanian flag. They had been imposed in 2024, for presumably being part of the Iranian crude transportation network destined to finance the Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah.

On December 21, 2025, when it was heading towards Venezuela to load oil, the US Coast Guard attempted to board it in Caribbean waters. The crew refused the boarding and the ship fled towards the North Atlantic.

It was that time when she changed her name to Sailor and painted a Russian flag on the hull, in addition to managing her registration under the Russian flag.