Scotland is one of Donald Trump’s favorite countries to tee off on the greens, but shocking news is out relating to the president and the UK nation.
The US Government and Trump administration is being pushed to explain whether it ignored a court order while it “abducted two people from Scotland.” This comes after the captain and first officer of a Russian-flagged, Venezuelan linked oil tanker, captured by US forces, have reportedly left UK waters. This news comes just hours after the Court of Session in Edinburgh, issued an interim interdict prohibiting their removal from the territorial jurisdiction of the court.
As reported by the BBC, Lord Young recalled the order on Tuesday, following the court being told that the US Department Justice had emailed the prosecution service in Scotland at 03:04 am. In that email, it was confirmed that the captain and first officer had been removed from the Marinera and taken by the US Coastguard vessel, Munro.
Natia Dzadzama, the wife of the Marinera’s captain, Avtandi Kalandadze, had sought the emergency order through her lawyer Aamer Anwar. Following news that the captain and first officer had left UK waters, Anwar said the US had “no lawful authority to arrest or detain individuals within Scotland.
The USA has abducted two people from Scotland. Scottish MPs are demanding the expulsion of all US troops.
The two were detained along with the Russian flagged Venezuelan tanker “Marinera” that was captured in a joint act of piracy by Starmer+Trump’s govts.
The PM must answer. pic.twitter.com/pyHkgirVyb
— Moth near a lightbulb. (@MxVivianWulf) January 29, 2026
According to Anwar, the two men were “whisked away under the cover of darkness [and] we have no idea what role our own governments played in that.” The lawyer then added:
A dangerous precedent has been set as the US should not have the power to arrest people under our control – these people have been denied their most basic human rights right under our noses, whilst the UK knowingly assisted the US ‘abduction’ of two men from Scotland to avoid the Judicial Review taking place.
These events raise serious constitutional and legal concerns. The removal of individuals from Scottish jurisdiction could not have occurred without the knowledge and cooperation of United Kingdom authorities.
It is equally implausible that the Scottish Government was unaware of these arrangements. What has taken place is the effective removal of individuals from the jurisdiction in the face of live Judicial Review proceedings.
Scottish Justice Secretary Angela Constance said the SNP Government had not been “furnished with full information” over the incident, including not being told that the Marinera was to be brought into Scottish waters .
“We have a number of questions, we have a number of concerns and deep frustrations about how this matter has evolved, because it is a matter of significant public interest and confidence,” Constance said, adding, “The Scottish government wants to play our part in international justice because that is appropriate and responsible.
“But that starts with the recognition and respect that must be afforded to Scottish jurisdiction and Scots law.”
According to Ross Greer, Scottish Green co-leader, “It very much looks like the US Government has just abducted two people from Scotland hours after our Court of Session ordered that they not be removed.
“The US is a rogue state. It’s time to evict their troops from their de-facto base at Prestwick airport.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the US Embassy responded, saying, “The United States and the United Kingdom are coordinating regarding the status, processing, and prospective repatriation of crew members from the Bella 1, which was interdicted on January 7 in international waters and moved into UK territorial waters for safety reasons.
“US and UK officials across several agencies are working together closely to determine a way forward for final disposition of the ship.
“We appreciate the UK’s cooperation and support in the original interdiction of the vessel as well as with respect to ongoing processes regarding the ship and crew.
“As of January 27, 26 Bella 1 crew members have disembarked the ship. Their repatriation is being handled in line with standard UK immigration and legal procedures.
“Two members of the crew remain in US custody following their lawful arrest for violation of US law. They will be brought to the United States to face prosecution in a US court.”
The Court of Session, sitting virtually on Tuesday, heard that 26 other crew members have left the ship and had been processed at the army reserve center in Inverness.
According to Solicitor General Ruth Charteris KC, representing the Lord Advocate and Scottish ministers said that, according to Police Scotland, none of the crew have claimed asylum. Five of the crew members wish to travel to the US, while 21 want to travel elsewhere, the court heard. The crew members were said to be from Russia, India, Georgia and Ukraine
Meanwhile, Charteris said that Scottish ministers and the Lord Advocate have not at any stage detained the crew, the captain or the first officer and never had them under their control. Moreover, none of the crew has been arrested or detained by Scottish authorities. The solicitor general said the Lord Advocate had received a request for mutual legal assistance, issued by US authorities on January 16.
This request was granted subject to specific assurances and conditions to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the crew. She added that it was a key requirement that all 28 crew members were brought ashore in Scotland.
Despite this, the request for mutual legal assistance was reportedly withdrawn Sunday, and confirmed in writing on Monday. This meant that the Lord Advocate of Scottish ministers could do nothing about the situation.
Clare Mitchell KC, representing Dzadzama, noted that the situation was “highly unsatisfactory,” adding, “The very thing we were concerned about, which was the captain and first officer remaining here under the protection of our authorities and our court, has now been taken out of our hands by them having been removed.”
Donald Trump is yet to make a statement about the removal of the two officers from the tanker.
