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During a recent US Coast Guard operation in the North Atlantic, military aircraft made a stop at a small civilian airport in the Scottish Highlands before continuing their flight northward to board a Russian-bound tanker. The vessel, named the Marinera, has been accused by the US government of violating sanctions related to the shipping of Iranian oil. Historically, this tanker has also transported crude oil from Venezuela.
According to sources familiar with the operation, at least three US Air Force U-28A Draco planes departed from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England, and landed at Wick John O’Groats Airport around 11:00 am, departing roughly an hour later. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Royal Navy’s RFA Tideforce tanker and RAF surveillance aircraft provided support to the US during the mission. The MoD emphasized that the operation targeted “sanction busting” activities conducted by so-called “shadow fleets,” and asserted that the actions were in accordance with international law.
The Marinera, a Russian-flagged ship, was intercepted while en route to Russia. The United States accuses the vessel of attempting to evade the Coast Guard over a period of several weeks. Another tanker, the Sophia, was boarded near the Caribbean around the same time. US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem remarked that both ships were either last docked in Venezuela or were heading there. Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the capture of the Marinera was authorized by a US court order. She described the vessel as part of a “Venezuelan shadow fleet” responsible for transporting sanctioned oil and added that the court order extended to the crew, enabling prosecution in the United States if necessary.
The operation came after the recent seizure of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro by US special forces. Flight tracking data revealed that the US special operations aircraft involved stopped at Wick John O’Groats before continuing towards Iceland. The U-28A planes used for the mission are operated by the US Air Force’s Special Operations Command and are primarily tasked with intelligence gathering and coordinating air operations. Wick Airport, owned by the Scottish government and managed by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, is a civilian airfield. The UK Ministry of Defence noted that the UK Armed Forces provided “pre-planned operational support,” including access to bases, during the US-led operation. UK Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that the tanker, formerly named Bella 1, was intercepted while heading to Russia and framed the intervention as part of a broader campaign against sanctions evasion.
The incident drew criticism from the Scottish Greens. Former co-leader Patrick Harvie condemned the seizure as “piracy at sea” and accused the United States of “increasingly acting like a rogue state.” He called on the UK government to recognize the US administration as a significant security threat. Meanwhile, the Russian Transport Ministry stated that the tanker only flew the Russian flag temporarily and argued that “no state has the right to use force against vessels properly registered in other countries’ jurisdictions.” Russian officials have not publicly responded to reports suggesting Moscow dispatched a submarine to protect the Marinera
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