Three Indians among crew held after US seizure of oil tanker Marinera near Venezuelan coast

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• Three Indians among 28 crew detained after US seized oil tanker near Venezuela
• US accuses tanker of violating sanctions by transporting Venezuelan oil
• Russia condemns US seizure, calling it a breach of maritime law and norms

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Three Indian nationals are among a multinational crew being held after US authorities took control of the oil tanker Marinera off the Venezuelan coast, an operation that followed what officials described as a pursuit lasting several weeks, according to Russia Today.

The vessel, which was sailing under the flag of Guyana at the time, had 28 crew members on board. According to details released by US authorities, the crew included 20 Ukrainians, six Georgians -- including the ship’s captain -- two Russians and three Indians. All were detained after the tanker was seized, as investigators began scrutinising the ship’s ownership, chartering arrangements and compliance with maritime and sanctions regulations.

US officials said the commercial tanker was linked to shipments of Venezuelan oil and accused it of being part of attempts to circumvent existing international sanctions. The ship had been chartered by a private trader and, according to Washington, was involved in moving oil connected to Venezuela “in violation of international sanctions”.

Before its interception, the tanker had reportedly operated under a different name, Bella 1, and was later rechristened Marinera after evading the US blockade of Venezuela last month. Around the same time, Washington also announced the seizure of another sanctioned vessel, the M/T Sophia, which it said was engaged in illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea.

While the entire crew remains in custody, US authorities have not clarified how long they will be detained or what legal procedures they may face as the probe continues. Investigators are examining the vessel’s operational history as well as its ownership and chartering structure.

The seizure has drawn a sharp response from Moscow. Russia, which maintains close ties with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, accused the United States of breaching international maritime norms. The Kremlin said the incident had added a new layer of tension between Washington and Moscow, amid already strained relations following the Donald Trump administration’s actions against Venezuela and the capture of Nicolas Maduro.

Russia’s foreign ministry said it was closely following developments and called for the humane treatment and “prompt return” of Russian citizens on board. In a statement, it said, “The boarding of American military personnel on a peaceful vessel on the high seas and its actual capture, as well as the detention of the crew, cannot be interpreted as anything other than a gross violation of the fundamental principles and norms of international maritime law and freedom of navigation.”