U.S. Seizes Sixth Sanctioned Oil Tanker Linked to Venezuela

U.S. forces have seized the oil tanker Veronica in the Caribbean Sea, marking the sixth such operation targeting vessels linked to Venezuela's oil industry.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the operation, stating that the Veronica had previously traversed Venezuelan waters and was operating in defiance of President Donald Trump's established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean.

The U.S. Southern Command detailed that Marines and sailors launched from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to conduct the seizure, which was executed without incident.

The Veronica, currently flying the flag of Guyana, is considered part of a shadow fleet that transports oil in violation of U.S. sanctions.

This seizure is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to control the production, refining, and global distribution of Venezuela's oil products.

The administration has indicated plans to sell at least 30 million to 50 million barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan oil to fund a $100 billion investment aimed at rebuilding Venezuela's oil infrastructure.