Venezuelan ‘dark fleet’ tanker evades US, reflags as Russian, flees to Irish coast: reports

A Venezuela-linked lipid tanker operating successful the alleged "dark fleet" painted a Russian emblem connected its hull, changed its name, and reflagged to Russia successful an evident bid to evade the U.S. Coast Guard, according to reports.

The vas has since been spotted disconnected Ireland, with the U.S., U.K., France and Ireland reportedly conducting aerial surveillance aft it escaped U.S. interception successful December, The Times reported.

The tanker, Bella 1, had renamed itself Marinera and registered nether the Russian emblem aft fleeing the region, according to an quality study from AI maritime analytics steadfast Windward.

"Runaway Venezuela-trading tanker Bella 1 painted a Russian emblem connected its hull, changed its name, and reflagged to Russia mid-voyage past week to debar seizure by the U.S. Coast Guard successful the Atlantic Ocean," Windward said.

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The vas tanker Bella 1 astatine Singapore Strait, aft U.S. officials accidental the U.S. Coast Guard pursued an lipid tanker successful planetary waters adjacent Venezuela. (Hakon Rimmereid/via Reuters)

Multiple reports said Tuesday the vas is present nether U.S. subject surveillance astir 230 miles disconnected the Irish coast.

According to reports, U.S. P-8 surveillance craft person tracked the tanker disconnected Ireland lone successful caller days.

CBS News reported that U.S. forces person pursued the vas since December, arsenic Washington intensified enforcement against Venezuelan lipid shipments.

Intelligence sources said Venezuela had considered placing subject unit aboard lipid tankers disguised arsenic civilians to assistance vessels evade U.S. blockades and that U.S. forces are apt preparing to intercept the tanker.

The pursuit of the vas follows strikes successful Venezuela nether the Trump medication and the Jan. 3 seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

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An lipid tanker is seen anchored successful Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela aft loading crude lipid astatine the Bajo Grande Refinery port.  (Jose Bula Urrutia/UCG/Universal Images Group/Getty Images)

Maduro appeared successful a New York tribunal connected Monday, wherever helium pleaded not blameworthy to narco-terrorism charges and said helium was a "prisoner of war."

On Jan. 1, Russia had formally asked the U.S. to halt its pursuit of the vessel, according to Reuters.

Citing 2 radical acquainted with the matter, Reuters reported that Moscow made the diplomatic petition arsenic U.S. forces continued tracking the vas for astir 2 weeks successful the Atlantic.

The petition came arsenic Trump simultaneously sought to broker a bid statement betwixt Russia and Ukraine, Reuters added.

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Deposed Venezuelan person Nicolás Maduro, center, is seen successful handcuffs escorted by national agents arsenic they marque their mode into an armored car en way to a national courthouse successful Manhattan, N.Y., Monday. (XNY/Star Max/GC Images via Getty Images)

TankerTrackers.com alleges the vas antecedently transported millions of barrels of Iranian and Venezuelan crude to China betwixt 2021 and 2025.

"Bella 1, present known arsenic Marinera, is not alone," Windward said.

The tanker has been nether U.S. Treasury sanctions since June 2024, accused of transporting illicit lipid cargoes linked to a Hezbollah-connected company.

"The precise ample crude bearer is joining a increasing fleet of Western-sanctioned tankers seeking extortion nether Russia’s nationalist flag," the steadfast added.

"Over the past six months, a twelve oregon much of the darkest tankers operating globally person switched from unfastened registries to Russia. This inclination accelerated successful December arsenic the emblem authorities emerged arsenic a captious shield against drone strikes and vas seizures."

VENEZUELA ORDERS NATIONWIDE MANHUNT FOR SUPPORTERS AFTER MADURO'S ARREST BY US FORCES

The vas allegedly transported millions of barrels of Iranian and Venezuelan crude to China betwixt 2021 and 2025. (Planet Labs PBC/Handout via Reuters )

Windward besides identified 2 further Western-sanctioned tankers presently successful Venezuelan waters that person reflagged to Russia successful caller days to forestall U.S. naval interception.

The tanker Hyperion departed Venezuela connected Jan. 1 flying the Russian flag, portion Premier signaled via AIS that it changed its emblem from Gambia to Russia connected Dec. 22.

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"Premier remains astatine the José Terminal successful Venezuela," Windward said.

Fox News Digital has reached retired to the U.S. Coast Guard and the White House for comment.