In a dramatic high-seas operation, American special forces have captured a Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela, using a remote Scottish airport as a crucial launchpad. The mission, which saw significant support from the British military, targeted the vessel for violating US sanctions.
Operation Launched from Scotland's Remote North
The covert action began earlier today, 07 January 2026, when US military aircraft were tracked landing at Wick John O'Groats Airport in Caithness. This small airfield, owned by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited and situated at the north-eastern tip of the Scottish mainland, became an unlikely staging post for the international raid.
Aviation enthusiasts identified U-28A surveillance planes, operated by the US Air Force's special operations command, taking off from RAF Mildenhall before arriving in Wick. One aircraft used the callsign AGREE36. They were joined by P8 Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft and KC-135 aerial refuelling tankers, all tracked heading north towards Iceland and the North Atlantic.
The Capture of the Marinera
The target was the M/V Marinera, a deteriorating vessel previously named the Bella-1. US European Command confirmed it had taken possession of the ship "for violations of US sanctions". According to an official statement, the vessel was seized in the North Atlantic under a US federal court warrant after being tracked by the USCGC Munro, a US Coast Guard cutter.
The tanker had allegedly evaded former President Donald Trump's "total naval blockade" of Venezuela. It was captured in international waters on a route that would have taken it north of Scotland, past the Faroe Islands and south of Iceland, en route to Russia.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed British assistance in the operation, providing RAF surveillance and the support vessel RFA Tideforce. This collaboration proved decisive despite reported Russian efforts to protect the ship; Vladimir Putin had deployed a submarine and naval vessels in a failed attempt to safeguard the ageing, and reportedly empty, tanker.
International Repercussions and Reactions
The seizure follows the Trump administration's weekend operation in Venezuela, which led to the overthrow and arrest of then-president Nicolas Maduro. Russia's Foreign Ministry swiftly condemned the tanker's capture, stating the Marinera was navigating legally in international waters and receiving "increased and clearly disproportionate attention" from US and NATO forces.
In a pointed statement, they noted the US Coast Guard had been shadowing the vessel for days despite it being approximately 4,000 kilometres from the American coast. The Kremlin challenged Western nations to uphold their professed commitment to freedom of navigation.
The mission underscores the continuing strategic role of UK infrastructure in global security operations, even in its most remote regions. The use of Wick airport highlights how niche facilities can become pivotal in complex, fast-moving international interventions.
