US Military Seizes Another Sanctioned Tanker Amid Ongoing Caribbean Enforcement Push

U.S. military forces have taken control of a seventh oil tanker linked to Venezuela, continuing a series of maritime enforcement actions targeting vessels accused of violating U.S. sanctions in the Caribbean region.

The U.S. Southern Command said the Motor Vessel Sagitta was apprehended “without incident” while operating in defiance of a quarantine imposed on sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean. Officials stated that the tanker was believed to have transported oil from Venezuela in violation of U.S. restrictions designed to regulate the export of the country’s petroleum products.

According to publicly available registration data cited by U.S. officials, the Sagitta is a Liberian‑ or Panamanian‑flagged vessel owned by a company based in Hong Kong and previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department under measures related to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The ship had not transmitted its location for more than two months before the seizure, last signaling near the Baltic Sea, officials said.

U.S. Southern Command released unclassified aerial footage showing the tanker at sea but did not provide further operational details, including whether the U.S. Coast Guard or Navy carried out the boarding, as has occurred in previous seizures.

The seizure is the latest in a series of U.S. operations targeting what officials describe as a “shadow fleet” of vessels used to transport oil from sanctioned countries such as Venezuela, Iran, and Russia while obscuring their origins. Since December 10, 2025, U.S. forces have seized seven Venezuela‑linked tankers, six of them in the Caribbean and one in the North Atlantic.

The enforcement actions come as the U.S. administration intensifies efforts to control Venezuelan oil flows following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this month, an event that has reshaped U.S.–Venezuela relations and global energy discussions. U.S. officials have stated that only oil exports conducted “properly and lawfully” will be permitted to leave Venezuela under current policy.

The seizures have implications for global oil markets, regional maritime security, and the operations of shipping companies navigating sanctions compliance. Analysts note that the crackdown has disrupted some Venezuelan exports and increased scrutiny of vessels operating in the Caribbean.

• Shipping operators face heightened enforcement risks and potential delays.
• Oil markets may experience supply shifts as seized cargoes are redirected or held.
• Venezuelan economic actors remain affected by sanctions and the tightening of maritime controls.
• Regional governments are monitoring the increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean.

The Pentagon and U.S. Southern Command have not released additional operational details, and inquiries regarding next steps for the Sagitta remain unanswered as of publication.