US EditionUS forces in Caribbean seize seventh sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuela
The U.S. seized its seventh Venezuela-linked tanker since Dec. 10, enforcing sanctions and controlling oil exports to disrupt revenue to sanctioned actors, including Russia.
- U.S. Southern Command announced Tuesday that joint U.S. military forces seized the Liberian-flagged Motor Vessel Sagitta in the Caribbean Sea on January 20, 2026, marking the seventh Venezuela-linked tanker taken since the December 17 blockade.
- Since the Jan. 3 ouster of Nicolás Maduro, the administration has prioritized control of Venezuela's oil resources, with SOUTHCOM saying tankers operate in defiance of a quarantine ordered by President Donald Trump.
- SOUTHCOM said troops boarded and seized the Sagitta without incident, posting unclassified aerial footage and confirming the operation involved the U.S. Coast Guard and DHS; the Liberian-flagged ship used zombie identities and last transmitted location over two months ago.
- SOUTHCOM said the Sagitta will be processed similarly to earlier captured tankers, while U.S. officials report seized oil is sold openly and Delcy Rodríguez said Venezuela received $300 million from sales.
- Observers warn the seizures add strain to already tense regional diplomacy as international law experts say the blockade and strikes have killed more than 120 people, and the U.S. military build-up in the Caribbean raises invasion questions.
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Washington. U.S. military forces boarded and took command of a seventh oil vessel linked to Venezuela on Tuesday, while President Donald Trump’s government continues its efforts to take control of the South American country’s hydrocarbons.
US seizes 7th oil tanker linked to Venezuela
WASHINGTON — U.S. military forces boarded and took control of a seventh oil tanker connected with Venezuela on Tuesday as the Trump administration continues its efforts to take control of the oil in the South American country.
US seizes 7th oil tanker linked to Venezuela
WASHINGTON — U.S. military forces boarded and took control of a seventh oil tanker connected with Venezuela on Tuesday as the Trump administration continues its efforts to take control of the oil in the South American country.
The US military seized its seventh tanker carrying Venezuelan oil on Tuesday, the US Southern Command said in a social media post. The statement said the tanker Sagitta was seized in the Caribbean without incident, violating President Donald Trump's blockade.
The US military has again seized a tanker in the Caribbean with links to Venezuela. It is important that only Venezuela oil is left, which is properly coordinated, according to the statement of the US South Command.
On Tuesday, the United States military seized another tanker near the coast of Venezuela, a tank vessel carrying Venezuelan oil on board, the seventh tanker detained by the United States Coast Guard since the beginning of December, as part of an operation to block tank vessels operating in violation of the sanctions.
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