NYT: Tanker crew pursued by US Coast Guard draws Russian flag on board

The crew of the oil tanker Bella 1, which is being pursued by the United States Coast Guard, drew a Russian flag, apparently trying to signal protection from the Russian Federation. This was reported by the newspaper The New York Times citing two unnamed U.S. officials with knowledge of the matter.

The crew of an oil tanker fleeing from US forces in the Atlantic Ocean recently painted a Russian flag on board the vessel, apparently trying to claim protection from the Russian Federation.

This is the latest twist in a strange odyssey that began on December 21, when the US Coast Guard attempted to intercept the Bella 1 in the Caribbean Sea as it was heading to Venezuela for oil.

However, during the escape, the crew members painted a Russian flag on the tanker and now claim to have Russian protection.

The tanker has been under U.S. sanctions since last year for transporting Iranian oil, which federal authorities claim is being sold to finance terrorism.

The sources added that the vessel has probably recently changed course to the northwest, moving away from the Mediterranean Sea, and may be heading for Greenland or Iceland. It is not believed to be carrying cargo. The tanker's transponder has been inoperative since December 17, making it impossible for the NYT to track the vessel, which is fleeing US forces.

The White House declined to comment on the statement. The Pentagon and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security declined to comment. The Russian Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.

The interlocutors of the publication said that the US Coast Guard tried to intercept the ship in the Caribbean, establishing that it was not flying a valid national flag, so it was subject to inspection in accordance with international law. However, the ship did not comply and continued to sail. Since then, it has been pursued by US forces.

Publicly, U.S. officials have not explained why the Coast Guard is waiting to inspect a tanker that is unable to outrun U.S. ships.

However, the inspection of Bella 1 requires a specialized team capable of ensuring the safety of a moving vessel with a potentially hostile crew. It is not typical for civilian tankers to escape such operations.

Officials said a warrant had been obtained to arrest the vessel based on its previous involvement in the Iranian oil trade. The tanker is part of the so-called "ghost fleet" of tankers that transport oil from Russia, Iran and Venezuela in violation of sanctions. According to one official, most of the crew consists of citizens of Russia, India and Ukraine.

• On December 17, it was reported that the United States introduced a complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela's ports.
• Venezuela has begun close wells in the region, where the world's largest oil fields are located, due to the US blockade.