The crew of a Venezuela-bound oil tanker have put up a crude painting of a Russian flag on the side of its hull in an apparent attempt to deter the US Coast Guard.

The Bella 1, which has been on the run from US forces since Dec. 21, saw its crew claim that the ship is under Moscow’s protection while en route to pick up oil in Venezuela, the New York Times reported.

It’s unclear exactly when the Russian flag was painted on its hull, but it appears to have happened sometime last week when the ship was first intercepted in the Caribbean Sea and forced to make a U-turn.

A U.S. military helicopter flies over the Panama-flagged Centuries tanker.
The US has intercepted oil tankers bound for Venezuela as part of President Trump’s blockade against Caracas’ oil industry.via REUTERS
Donald Trump speaking at a podium with a US flag in the background.
Trump confirmed that the US struck an alleged drug-trafficking vessel while it was docked in Venezuela.AP

The tanker, which has refused to let the Coast Guard board and remains on the run, has been under US sanction since 2024 for transporting Iranian petrol.

The vessel was originally flying under the flag of Guyana, whose government confirmed that the Bella 1 was not registered with it.

Despite claiming Russian protection, the Bella 1 does not appear to be heading back to Venezuela, American officials told the Times.

The ship, instead, has changed course northwest, likely heading toward Greenland or Iceland. The Bell 1’s location transponder has not been on for nearly two weeks.

U.S. military helicopter flying over the Panama-flagged Centuries ship.
The US has taken possession of three oil tankers since its operations in Venezuela began this year.via REUTERS

The Coast Guard has not publicly stated why it did not board the Bella 1 after intercepting the vessel last week. Officials had acquired a seizure warrant for the ship based on its involvement with Iran’s oil trade.

US forces had intercepted and boarded other tankers near Venezuela earlier this month, including one that is now docked in Texas.

The Coast Guard is expected to let the Bella 1 leave the region without further incident, but tactical assets have been prepared in case the order comes to seize the tanker, CNN reported.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaking at a military event with his wife Cilia Flores.
The American blockade is aimed at squeezing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s main economic lifeline.via REUTERS

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The incident comes as Trump ordered a “blockade” on sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers, which would serve a major blow to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s main economic lifeline.

Along with targeting the ships, the US also announced sanctions against 10 individuals and entities in Venezuela and Iran on Tuesday.

While Caracas has remained silent on the latest US strikes near its shores, Maduro has boasted that his forces can counter any foreign attacks, with the Venezuelan president recently claiming that at least nine foreign drug-trafficking aircraft have been destroyed in the last 24 hours.