US Seizes Third Venezuelan Oil Tanker in Caribbean
In a significant enforcement action, US authorities have seized a third oil tanker linked to Venezuela following a pursuit in the Caribbean Sea. This operation marks the second tanker seizure by US forces in less than 24 hours, underscoring an intensified crackdown on oil trafficking involving sanctioned vessels. The tanker, identified as the Bella 1, was intercepted late Saturday by the US Coast Guard after being flagged as a stateless vessel.
Tanker’s Troubled History and Legal Context
The Bella 1, a very large crude carrier (VLCC) built in 2002, was reportedly not displaying a valid national flag at the time of interception, which allowed US forces to board it under international law. There are conflicting reports regarding its registration, with some databases indicating it is flagged under Guyana and others suggesting Panama, while some list its flag as unknown. The vessel, which is managed by Istanbul-based Louis Marine Shipholding, had been under a federal seizure warrant issued by a US magistrate, primarily due to its alleged involvement in the Iranian oil trade, rather than its Venezuelan ties.
This vessel was placed on the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list back in 2022 under the name Adisa, identified as part of a broader international oil smuggling operation that reportedly funneled revenue to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force and Hezbollah. According to maritime analytics firm Kpler, the Bella 1 was en route to pick up oil in Venezuela and was not carrying any cargo at the time of its seizure. The vessel has a documented history of evading sanctions, including engaging in ship-to-ship transfers and operating with gaps in its Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals.
Recent Seizures and Venezuela’s Response
This seizure is part of a broader strategy by the US, initiated during Donald Trump’s presidency, which aimed for a “total and complete” blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan waters. Earlier on the same day, US authorities had already intercepted and boarded another Panama-flagged tanker, the Centuries, which was carrying Venezuelan crude near Barbados. The first tanker, the Skipper, was seized on December 10, marking a series of aggressive actions against vessels tied to Venezuela’s oil trade.
Despite Venezuela’s efforts to deploy naval escorts for oil-carrying vessels, the Bella 1 was not accompanied by any escort at the time of its interception and had not yet entered Venezuelan territorial waters. The continued seizures reflect a concerted effort by US authorities to disrupt illicit oil trading networks that circumvent international sanctions, emphasizing the ongoing tensions surrounding the global oil market and geopolitical dynamics in the region.
