An operation to seize two ‘ghost fleet’ oil tankers linked to Venezuela and Russia was captured on video.
Marinera, previously named Bella-1, was seized by the US military, boosted by UK spy planes and a Royal Navy support ship.
Another Venezuela-linked tanker, Sophia, was also captured by the US in the Caribbean on Wednesday, according to the US Southern Command.
Both vessels are suspected of being used to evade sanctions.
Footage shared by secretary of homeland security Kristi Noem on X shows a helicopter hovering over a vessel before US forces abseil and storm the deck.
The capture took place after a pursuit lasting almost two weeks as the oil tanker travelled through the waters between Iceland and Scotland.
‘One of these tankers, Motor Tanker Bella I, has been trying to evade the Coast Guard for weeks, even changing its flag and painting a new name on the hull while being pursued, in a desperate and failed attempt to escape justice,’ Noem wrote.
‘The heroic crew of the USCGC Munro pursued this vessel across the high seas and through treacherous storms…’
It was not immediately clear whether the footage Noem shared was of the Sophia or the Marinera, but Metro has contacted US Southern Command for a comment.
Douglas Alexander, a member of Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet, has since said that the UK was ‘absolutely willing to step up’ and support the US operation in the Atlantic.
He said the Marinera was ‘part of the shadow fleet that funds Russia’s war effort in Ukraine’ and that is is ‘right and reasonable’ that the UK works with its international allies – such as the US – to tackle Russian attempts at sanction busting.
Speaking about the operation on Thursday, Mr Alexander told BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme: ‘This ship is part of the shadow fleet that funds Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
‘As a UK government and as the UK, our national interest is served by avoiding the illegal fuelling of terrorism, of conflict and of misery, whether in Ukraine, the Middle East or anywhere else.
‘So when we were asked by the US to provide operation assistance, including basing an air surveillance support, we were absolutely willing to step up.
‘I think it is right and reasonable we work with our allies to confront the attempt to sanction bust that we are witnessing from the Russians on a regular basis.’
He said authorities in the UK and elsewhere ‘continue to look to how we can close down those channels of financing that are funding Putin’s war machine’.
He added: ‘What we saw in the North Atlantic yesterday was just one of the practical actions being taken.’
As part of the operation, US special operations aircraft landed at Wick John O’Groats airport in the Scottish Highlands before flying further north.
But no British personnel took part in the boarding of the vessel, defence secretary John Healey stressed to MPs on Wednesday evening.
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