US intercepts another tanker of russia's "shadow fleet"

American military forces have conducted a successful operation to detain the oil tanker Sagitta, which helped Russia and Venezuela circumvent international sanctions. It was reported by the US Southern Command on X.

The operation took place in the Caribbean Sea with the support of the US Department of Homeland Security. The military emphasized that the procedure went "without incident." The Sagitta tanker is accused of violating the current quarantine for sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean.

Command officials said the move demonstrates the US's determination to stop the illegal export of oil:

"We will ensure that only oil that is properly and legally transported out of Venezuela is exported," the statement said.

Through #OpSouthernSpear, the @DeptofWar is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere in partnership with @USCG, @DHSgov and @TheJusticeDept.

This morning, U.S. military forces, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended... pic.twitter.com/UPADtiw681

- U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) January 20, 2026

According to data from the War & Sanctions portal, the Sagitta is directly involved in the russian federation's "shadow fleet" scheme. This tanker was used to transport russian oil in circumvention of restrictions imposed by a broad coalition of countries, including Ukraine, the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom and the EU, as well as Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand.

The detention of the vessel is part of a broader Western strategy to limit the kremlin's profits from energy trade, which are used to finance the war.

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 their 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 watched the seizure of the tanker, but took no action.