US Sells 2 Seized Sanctioned Tankers for Scrap After Venezuela Raid

The US government has recently sold for scrap two sanctioned oil tankers seized following Washington's military action in Venezuela, according to a report by Reuters. The vessels, purchased by Dubai-based recycling firm Global Marketing Systems (GMS), are the Era and the Lileo. GMS acquired the tankers last month for an undisclosed amount, as reported by Lloyd’s List.

Both ships have had their names changed multiple times to avoid detection. The Era, previously known as Marinera and Bella 1, and the Lileo, previously sailing as Galileo and Veronica, are scheduled to be demolished in scrap yards in India. According to GMS CEO Anil Sharma, the US government's sale of these vessels was authorized by a court order, but there are complexities, particularly regarding the previous ownership of the ships.

GMS has not yet commented on the sale. The Era was seized by the US Coast Guard and military special forces in January in the Atlantic Ocean, putting an end to a weeks-long pursuit across the Atlantic. The vessel was found to be carrying sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran, which violated US sanctions. The US also seized the Lileo in the Caribbean Sea in January, subjecting it to sanctions against Russia. In total, the US has seized up to ten oil tankers since its military operation in Venezuela.