US seizes another tanker involved in transportation of Venezuelan oil

The United States has seized the tanker Veronica (IMO: 9256860), which was transporting Venezuelan oil or had done so in the past. This is the sixth vessel detained by the US military since the beginning of December 2025.

This is evidenced by a message from the US Southern Command, published on Thursday, January 15.

American military and law enforcement officials reportedly boarded the tanker as part of Operation Southern Spear, which the United States launched on the orders of President Donald Trump to combat drug cartels.

The seizure of the tanker took place early in the morning with the participation of Marines, US Navy personnel and law enforcement officers. The seizure of the vessel went without incident.

"The only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully," the statement said.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, last Monday, January 12, The Wall Street Journal wrote, that at least 15 tankers from the so-called "shadow fleet" changed the flag to russian in the hope that this would help avoid detention by the US military.

As a reminder, on January 7, the United States seized the Marinera tanker. A US Coast Guard ship had been chasing it for several weeks in the Atlantic Ocean. Initially, the vessel was called Bella-1, but on the way it re-registered under the russian flag. However, this did not help, and US special forces boarded it in the northeast Atlantic.

The aggressor country russia sent several warships, including a submarine, to meet the tanker. Russian sailors observed the seizure of the tanker, but took no action.