The US government has sold two sanctioned oil tankers, the 'Lileo' and the 'Era', for scrapping in India, Lloyd’s List reported, according to Reuters on August 11. The Dubai-based ship recycling firm Global Marketing Systems (GMS) acquired the vessels in July. The 'Era' was seized by the US Coast Guard and military special forces in January after a weeks-long pursuit across the Atlantic, with the operation taking place south of Iceland. The tanker had previously evaded a US blockade in the Caribbean intended to curb Venezuelan oil exports. The USA also seized the Russian-flagged 'Veronica', now operating as 'Lileo' in the Caribbean Sea in January. The vessel had been targeted by US sanctions over its links to Russia.
