US captures tanker Veronica in Caribbean Sea and shares footage
Illustrative photo: The US seized a tanker linked to Venezuela (Getty Images)
US service members seized the sanctioned tanker Veronica, which is linked to Venezuela. This marks the sixth such case in recent times, according to the US Southern Command on X and Reuters.
"In another pre-dawn action, Marines and Sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, launched from USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and apprehended Motor/Tanker Veronica without incident," a statement by the Southern Command says.
Through #OpSouthernSpear, the Department of War is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere in partnership with @USCG through @DHSgov and @TheJusticeDept.
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) January 15, 2026
In another pre-dawn action, Marines and Sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear,… pic.twitter.com/brxO9xXUu3
The command stated that the vessel had violated US sanctions on tankers in the Caribbean region. Southern Command emphasized that the only oil leaving Venezuela is that which is exported properly and legally.
Meanwhile, unnamed officials told Reuters that the operation took place in the Caribbean Sea.
The intercepted vessels were either under US sanctions or part of a so-called shadow fleet of tankers that conceal their origin to transport oil from Iran, Russia, or Venezuela.
The report noted that the US carried out this operation ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
Tanker Veronica III
The Times recently reported that the tanker Veronica III attempted to leave Venezuelan waters.
The vessel is mentioned on Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence website. According to the report, it operated on behalf of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), which is under US sanctions, as well as China Concord Petroleum Company, which was sanctioned in 2019 for dealings with Iranian oil.
Deceptive schemes were used to transport the oil, including falsifying documents, manipulating tracking systems, and changing the vessel’s name and flag.
It remains unclear whether the US Southern Command was referring specifically to this tanker.
Meanwhile, the BBC recently reported that British authorities also plan to seize sanctioned tankers, referring to vessels that are part of Russia’s shadow fleet.
