The development comes after the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Russia had sent a submarine and other naval assets to escort the tanker.

The vessel had spent more than two weeks attempting to slip past U.S. enforcement efforts targeting sanctioned oil shipments near Venezuela, the outlet reported.

"The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world," said Secretary of War Pete Hegseth after the tanker was seized.

President Donald Trump announced a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela in mid-December.

Later Wednesday morning, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced the separate seizure of another oil tanker, the M/T Sophia, in the Caribbean.

"In a pre-dawn action this morning, the Department of War, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker without incident," SOUTHCOM said.

It added that the interdicted vessel was conducting "illicit activities" in the Caribbean and is being escorted by the U.S. Coast Guard to the United States for "final disposition."

"Through Operation Southern Spear, the Department of War is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere. We will defend our Homeland and restore security and strength across the Americas," said SOUTHCOM.

U.S. Navy SEALs flown by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment ("Night Stalkers") seized the sanctioned Marinera tanker, previously named Bella 1, between Iceland and Britain, officials told Fox News.

The U.S. Coast Guard had been shadowing the vessel for weeks.Russia had previously said it would escort her into port using warships and a submarine. The sanctioned tanker was recently reflagged to become a Russian vessel.

The Justice Department issued a warrant to seize the ship over its sanctions violations for transporting oil on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the State Department. 

The Coast Guard had tried boarding the ship last month in the Caribbean when she was heading to Venezuela. She then turned and headed for the North Atlantic. 

U.S. forces arrived before the Russians did.