In a tense maritime standoff in the Caribbean and Atlantic waters, the U.S. Coast Guard has been engaged in a multi-day pursuit of the oil tanker Bella 1, a vessel linked to sanctions evasion involving Venezuela and Iran. As of December 24, 2025, the Coast Guard is awaiting the arrival of specialized reinforcements before attempting a potentially risky boarding operation, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The incident began over the weekend when Coast Guard personnel attempted to intercept and board the Bella 1 in international waters near Venezuela. The tanker, identified by maritime tracking experts as a very large crude carrier (VLCC), refused to comply with boarding requests. Instead, it fled northeast into the open Atlantic, broadcasting repeated distress signals in what some observers described as an attempt to deter pursuit or attract international attention.
The Bella 1 has a history of involvement in sanctioned oil trades. U.S. authorities sanctioned the vessel in 2024 primarily due to its role in transporting Iranian crude oil, with proceeds allegedly benefiting terrorist-linked networks, including Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force. More recently, the empty tanker was en route to Venezuela to load crude when intercepted. It was reportedly flying a false or invalid flag, rendering it effectively stateless under international maritime law, which grants authorities broader rights to board and seize such vessels.
This pursuit is the latest escalation in President Donald Trump’s aggressive campaign to disrupt Venezuela’s oil exports and increase pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Earlier in December, Trump ordered a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan ports. The policy aims to cut off a critical revenue stream for Maduro’s regime, which the U.S. accuses of funding drug trafficking, terrorism, and human rights abuses.
In the weeks leading up to the Bella 1 incident, the Coast Guard successfully seized two other tankers. The first, on December 10, involved dramatic footage released by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi showing armed personnel rappelling from helicopters onto the deck. The second seizure, of the Centuries tanker on December 20, was highlighted in social media posts by the Department of Homeland Security, depicting Coast Guard teams preparing aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier.
These operations underscore the unique role of the Coast Guard in maritime law enforcement. Unlike the U.S. Navy, which is restricted from domestic-style policing actions, the Coast Guard—operating under the Department of Homeland Security—has authority to board and seize vessels in international waters if they violate U.S. sanctions or laws.
However, the ongoing standoff with the Bella 1 highlights significant resource constraints facing the service. Any forced boarding of a large, moving tanker is a high-risk operation requiring elite specialists. The task is expected to fall to one of the Coast Guard’s two Maritime Security Response Teams (MSRTs), highly trained units capable of complex tactics such as fast-roping from helicopters or approaching via small boats in rough seas. Experts note that only a limited number of personnel are qualified for such missions.
Corey Ranslem, a maritime security expert and former Coast Guard member, emphasized the scarcity of these capabilities: “There are limited teams who are trained for these types of boardings.” Sources indicate that the MSRT involved in the recent Centuries seizure was positioned too far away to immediately assist with the Bella 1.
This resource mismatch comes amid a broader buildup of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean, including aircraft carriers, fighter jets, warships, and additional aircraft deployed to bases like Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. While this presence provides logistical support, the actual enforcement falls primarily to the Coast Guard, which has long warned of strained readiness.
Coast Guard leaders have described a “severe readiness crisis” built over decades, with the service juggling missions from drug interdiction to search and rescue. In November alone, the Coast Guard seized nearly 49,000 pounds of drugs in the eastern Pacific. Admiral Kevin Lunday, the Coast Guard’s commandant, has testified that the force is “less ready than at any time in the past 80 years.” Recent legislation, including the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” provided an additional $25 billion in funding to address these shortfalls, but modernization efforts take time.
The White House has affirmed that the U.S. remains in “active pursuit” of the Bella 1, describing it as part of Venezuela’s “illegal sanctions evasion” network, often referred to as the “dark fleet”—shadowy vessels that obscure their origins to bypass sanctions.
Venezuelan officials have condemned the U.S. actions as “piracy” and threatened legal recourse through international bodies like the United Nations. Maduro’s government has previously urged its navy to escort tankers, raising fears of potential confrontations, though no direct clashes have been reported.
The outcome of the Bella 1 pursuit remains uncertain. The administration could opt not to escalate further, or the specialized teams could arrive in time for a boarding. Either way, the incident illustrates the complexities of enforcing sanctions at sea: balancing bold policy goals with the practical limits of maritime operations in a vast ocean environment.
As global oil markets watch closely—some traders anticipating disruptions to Venezuelan exports—this standoff serves as a reminder of the high stakes in U.S.-Venezuela relations under the Trump administration. The blockade policy has already prompted some tankers to delay departures or reroute, potentially tightening supply and influencing energy prices worldwide.