The U.S. military has confirmed the capture of a vessel linked to sanctioned Venezuelan oil operations in the Caribbean Sea region, escalating ongoing efforts to enforce sanctions and control illicit shipments amid heightened tensions in the area.
According to statements from U.S. Southern Command, forces boarded and seized the Motor Tanker Veronica in a pre-dawn operation described as occurring “without incident.” The tanker, which had recently passed through Venezuelan waters, was accused of defying the U.S.-imposed quarantine on sanctioned vessels involved in Venezuela’s oil trade. This marks one of several such interceptions in recent months as part of broader operations following significant developments in U.S.-Venezuela relations.
The seizure aligns with the Trump administration’s campaign to target “shadow fleet” or “dark fleet” tankers—often using false flags or stateless registrations—to curb exports of Venezuelan crude in violation of U.S. sanctions. Officials have emphasized that these actions aim to disrupt networks allegedly supporting illicit activities.
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