U.S. Seizes Sixth Sanctioned Tanker Linked to Venezuela
U.S. forces seized the tanker Veronica in the Caribbean, the sixth sanctioned vessel tied to Venezuela during the Trump administration's effort to control Venezuelan oil.
Overview
U.S. Coast Guard tactical teams, Marines and sailors launched from the carrier USS Gerald R. Ford boarded the tanker Veronica early Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reported.
The seizure took place in the Caribbean; Veronica last transmitted its location on Jan. 3 near Aruba, was partially filled with crude, and is considered part of a sanctions-evading 'shadow fleet'.
Video posted by U.S. accounts showed helicopters approaching and troops fast-roping onto the deck; officials said the seizure was conducted without incident and involved multiple agencies.
Registry data show Veronica has sailed under other names including Gallileo and Pegas, flown Guyana's flag, and had alleged connections to Russian managers previously sanctioned for illicit oil movements.
Administration officials say seizures enforce sanctions and aim to secure Venezuelan oil resources; Trump discussed potential investments and expectations to sell tens of millions of sanctioned barrels.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the seizures as law-enforcement and security actions by prioritizing U.S. official accounts and action footage, using evaluative terms like "shadow fleet" and "operating in defiance." They foreground enforcement and economic goals, while offering limited Venezuelan or independent perspectives, producing a narrative focused on U.S. control and operational success.
Sources (3)
FAQ
The tanker Veronica, previously known as Gallileo and Pegas under Guyana's flag with ties to sanctioned Russian managers, was seized by U.S. forces in the Caribbean as part of a sanctions-evading shadow fleet carrying Venezuelan crude oil.
The U.S. seized the sixth sanctioned tanker, Veronica, linked to Venezuela during the Trump administration's efforts to enforce sanctions and control oil resources.
U.S. Coast Guard tactical teams, Marines, and sailors launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford conducted the boarding, as reported by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, involving multiple agencies without incident.
The seizures enforce U.S. sanctions on Venezuela's oil trade, target the shadow fleet evading sanctions, aim to secure Venezuelan oil resources, and prevent proceeds from funding narcoterrorism.
More than 30 to 37 undeparted OFAC-designated tankers are currently in Venezuela, with over 1300 blacklisted tankers tracked globally, many part of the shadow fleet.
History
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