Europe Asia News

The Coast Guard said it intervened this morning before dawn against two “ghost fleet” tankers in international waters near the North Atlantic and the Caribbean. :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}

The seized vessels, Bella I and Sophia, were either last anchored in Venezuela or headed there at the time. :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}

The operations were carried out under coordinated efforts by Coast Guard tactical teams and the U.S. Departments of Defense, Justice and State on the orders of President Trump. :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}

Officials said Bella I had been trying to evade the Coast Guard for weeks, even changing its flag and repainting its name. :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}

Defense officials said, “Criminals worldwide have been warned: you can run but you cannot hide. We will never back down from our mission to protect the American people and prevent the financing of drug-related terrorism.” :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}