US Forces Seize Tanker Carrying Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil

US forces seized the oil tanker MT Sophia on January 7 in the Caribbean, citing its involvement in transporting sanctioned Venezuelan crude. The vessel was sailing under the Panamanian flag and had switched off its AIS transponder for roughly five months prior to the operation.

US Southern Command, which is responsible for military activities across Latin America and the Caribbean, said on social media that its personnel boarded and took control of the MT Sophia without encountering resistance. The command described the ship as a “stateless, sanctioned dark-fleet motor tanker.”

At the time of the seizure, the crude oil tanker was reportedly carrying about 2 million barrels of Merey crude loaded in Venezuela. The vessel is said to be under escort to the United States, where a final decision on its disposition will be made.

The action against the MT Sophia occurred only hours after US forces carried out a similar operation involving the tanker Marinera, previously known as Bella 1.