American special forces have operated from a small airfield in the remote northern region of Scotland to execute a bold mission to seize an oil tanker linked to Venezuela. Tracking data from aircraft monitoring sites revealed that US military aircraft landed at Wick John O’Groats airport before proceeding further north toward Iceland.
Following the operation, American 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 verified the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violating US sanctions, stating that the vessel was apprehended in the North Atlantic based on a warrant issued by a US federal court and tracked by USCGC Munro.
The Ministry of Defence acknowledged the involvement of British military forces in supporting the American operation to apprehend the Marinera tanker by providing RAF surveillance capabilities and the RFA Tideforce support vessel. The US Air Force’s special operations command deployed U-28A planes for intelligence gathering and coordinating with other aircraft near Wick in Caithness.
Additional aircraft, including P8 Poseidon anti-submarine planes and KC-135 aerial refuelers, were observed heading towards the location of the tanker. The pursuit of the vessel by the US followed a recent operation in Venezuela resulting in the removal and arrest of then-president Nicolas Maduro. The vessel was intercepted in international waters en route from Scotland to Russia, passing through the Faroe Islands and south of Iceland.
In response to the incident, Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously dispatched a submarine and naval ships to protect the Marinera, which was reportedly empty and not carrying any oil. However, American forces boarded the ship, thwarting Russia’s efforts. Russia’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern over what they deemed as undue attention from US and NATO forces towards the vessel.
US and UK forces closely monitored the ship after it disappeared from the Caribbean two weeks prior, increasing anxiety over 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.