Photo: Alamy
U.S. military forces on Tuesday seized a seventh oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea as part of an ongoing operation to enforce a U.S. quarantine on vessels linked to Venezuela, officials said.
The U.S. Southern Command said troops boarded and apprehended the Liberian-flagged Motor Vessel Sagitta “without incident,” after determining the vessel was operating in defiance of a U.S.-declared quarantine on sanctioned ships.
“The apprehension of another tanker operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean demonstrates our resolve to ensure that the only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully,” Southern Command said in a social media post.
“As the joint force operates in the Western Hemisphere, we reaffirm that the security of the American people is paramount, demonstrating our commitment to safety and stability,” it added.
The seizure marks the seventh tanker interdicted since the United States declared a maritime blockade on sanctioned oil traffic in mid-December. Most of the operations have taken place in Caribbean waters, targeting vessels suspected of carrying Venezuelan crude in violation of U.S. sanctions.
The move comes amid an expanded U.S. military presence in the region under a campaign aimed at controlling Venezuela’s oil exports and shipments, part of broader pressure following the removal of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power in early January.
Details about the Sagitta’s cargo or its ultimate disposition were not immediately released. Critics have raised concerns about the legal and diplomatic implications of the blockade and tanker seizures, even as U.S. officials defend the actions as enforcement of sanctions law.
Since December 10, 2025, U.S. authorities have seized seven oil tankers linked to Venezuela. Six of the vessels were intercepted in the Caribbean, while one was seized in the North Atlantic.
The actions followed a significant expansion of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean last year. Earlier this month, American forces moved into Venezuela and detained Venezuelan leader Maduro along with his wife. Both were transported to New York to face federal charges alleging drug trafficking and cooperation with criminal cartels. The couple has rejected the allegations and maintains their innocence.
