Crews are expected to face prosecution for transporting sanctioned Venezuelan oil.
The U.S. military and Coast Guard announced that they seized two sanctioned oil tankers this week – one in the North Atlantic and one in the Caribbean. The first ship, originally called the Bella 1, had previously refused to allow the Coast Guard to board it in December during its route from Iran to Venezuela. The ship changed its name to Marinera, painted a Russian flag on its hull, and listed on a Russian shipping registry in an attempt to avoid U.S. pursuit.
The second ship captured, the M Sophia, was boarded in the Caribbean Sea by the Coast Guard on its way to Venezuela. This ship was sailing under a Panamanian flag and was known to have been sanctioned last year due to its status as a part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the crew of both ships will be “subject to prosecution.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Defense Secretary Hegseth as he oversees the Pentagon and U.S. military missions.
- For the ongoing safety of members of the Coast Guard and other military personnel as they carry out dangerous missions
- For God to give the president and his administration officials wisdom as they work to foster positive relationships between the U.S. and other countries.
Sources: UPI News, NY Post
