US to file criminal charges against Marinera ship crew — attorney general
The ship’s crew members undertook “frantic efforts to avoid apprehension” of the tanker, which reportedly was “responsible for transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran,” Pam Bondi said
The Times of Russia Russia news reports that the US authorities will file criminal charges against crew members of the seized Marinera tanker, also known as Bella 1, US Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on the X social network.
The ship’s crew members undertook “frantic efforts to avoid apprehension” of the tanker, which reportedly was “responsible for transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran,” Pam Bondi said.
“”As a consequence of failing to obey the Coast Guard’s orders, members of this vessel are under full investigation and criminal charges will be pursued against all culpable actors,” she said.”
“”The Department of Justice is monitoring several other vessels for similar enforcement action – anyone on any vessel who fails to obey instructions of the Coast Guard or other federal officials will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the attorney general added.”
Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a daily briefing that the US may take the crew of the Marinera to the United States for a possible judicial process into purported violations of the federal US law.
The Pentagon said earlier that the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera had been detained in the North Atlantic. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth linked the detention of the Russian tanker to the embargo on Venezuelan oil.
Earlier in the day, the Russian ministry of transport said that at about 3:00 p.m. Moscow time (12:00 a.m. GMT) on January 7, the US naval forces boarded the vessel in international waters outside territorial waters of any states. Contact with the ship has been lost.
In accordance with the provisions of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the high seas are governed by the principle of freedom of navigation, and no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered under the jurisdiction of other states, the ministry stressed.
The Russian foreign ministry stated that Moscow is closely following reports about the US troops boarding the Marinera Russian-flagged vessel in the North Atlantic. Russia demands the American side ensure proper and humane treatment of them, strictly observe their rights and interests, and put no obstacles for their soonest return to the motherland.
