US forces seize sixth Venezuela-linked oil tanker in Caribbean Sea
Marines and sailors boarded the Veronica in a predawn operation as part of President Trump's quarantine on sanctioned Venezuelan vessels.
January 15, 2026
The United States seized a sixth oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea on Thursday in a predawn operation, according to U.S. Southern Command. The vessel, Veronica, was boarded "without incident" by Marines and Sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, who launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) in support of the Department of Homeland Security.
The seizure is part of what authorities describe as a quarantine on sanctioned oil tankers operating in and out of Venezuelan waters. "The Veronica is the latest tanker operating in defiance of President Trump's established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean," U.S. Southern Command said in a statement posted on social media, which included video footage of the boarding operation.
The tanker, sailing under a Guyanese flag, departed empty from Venezuelan waters in early January. According to intelligence reports, the vessel had previously operated under different names as part of what is referred to as a "ghost fleet." The ship was also known as the Eliana and was intercepted near the coast of Trinidad and Tobago. Initial reports indicated the tanker was carrying approximately 700,000 barrels of Venezuelan crude oil.
U.S. Southern Command stated that "the only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully." The operation reflects the broader enforcement effort following recent U.S. military actions in Venezuela, which included the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month. Maduro and his wife have been accused of narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking.
The seizure of the Veronica marks the sixth tanker intercepted this month as part of Operation Southern Spear, the naval blockade activated by President Trump following Maduro's capture. Previous seizures in recent days included the tankers Olina and Sophia. U.S. Navy units and Southern Command personnel conducted the operation using helicopters to deploy troops directly onto the tanker's deck, consistent with tactics employed in earlier interdictions.