US indicts captain after weeks‑long Atlantic chase of oil tanker

The United States has charged the captain of an oil tanker that led American forces on a prolonged chase across the Atlantic Ocean, marking a rare criminal escalation in the U.S. campaign against Venezuelan oil shipments.

Avtandil Kalandadze faces two federal charges connected to his command of the vessel during the December encounter, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

One count alleges that he “falsely flying the flag of Guyana” while aboard the tanker, which was registered elsewhere, was an attempt to evade seizure by the U.S. Coast Guard. The second count accuses him of failing to obey an order to stop the ship and allow U.S. forces to board.

At the time, the tanker, then known as Bella 1, was sailing toward Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea. When approached by the Coast Guard, it turned back into the Atlantic, triggering a weekslong pursuit.

During the chase, the crew renamed the vessel Marinera, painted a Russian flag on its side, and claimed Russian protection.

Despite diplomatic requests from Russia to halt the pursuit, U.S. forces boarded and seized the ship on January 7 near the United Kingdom, detaining Kalandadze and the crew.

The seizure is part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to target Venezuela’s oil trade. U.S. authorities have boarded multiple vessels suspected of transporting Venezuelan, Iranian, or Russian oil in violation of sanctions. Authorities obtained a seizure warrant for the Bella 1 because of its history of carrying Iranian oil for groups linked to terrorism.

Following the seizure, Kalandadze’s wife, Natia Dzadzama, sought a judicial review of her husband’s detention in the United Kingdom, but her legal challenge was unsuccessful. Her lawyer stated, “The U.S. has once again shown a total disregard for the rule of law and international obligations with its closest ally, the U.K.”

The Justice Department and the White House did not immediately comment. Reports indicate that while another crew member may face charges, the remaining 26 crew members have been released.

By Aghakazim Guliyev