American special forces have utilized a small airfield in the remote north of Scotland to coordinate a bold operation to seize control of an oil tanker linked to Venezuela. Today, aircraft tracking sites showed US military planes landing at Wick John O’Groats airport before heading further north towards Iceland.
Following the operation, US forces confirmed the capture of the Marinera, a deteriorating Russian-flagged vessel previously known as Bella-1, which reportedly evaded Donald Trump’s naval blockade of Venezuela. The US European Command later announced the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violating US sanctions, stating that the ship was apprehended in the North Atlantic under a US federal court warrant after being tracked by USCGC Munro.
The Ministry of Defence acknowledged that British military forces supported the American mission to seize the Marinera tanker, providing RAF surveillance capabilities and the RFA Tideforce support vessel. The US Air Force’s special operations command deployed U-28A planes near the Wick area for intelligence gathering and coordination with other aircraft.
Additionally, P8 Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft and KC-135 aerial refueling planes were observed en route to the tanker’s location. The vessel’s route was expected to pass by Scotland, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland en route to Russia before being intercepted by American forces in international waters.
Russian efforts to protect the Marinera, including deploying a submarine and naval ships, were thwarted by the US operation. Russia’s Foreign Ministry criticized the disproportionate attention from US and NATO forces on the vessel, emphasizing that it was sailing legally under the Russian flag in compliance with maritime laws.
US and UK forces closely monitored the tanker after it departed from the Caribbean two weeks ago, raising concerns about its proximity to Venezuela. Wick John O’Groats airport, located at the northeastern tip of the Scottish mainland, is managed by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited.