U.S. intercepts a new sanctioned tanker in the Caribbean

The United States Coast Guard intercepted this Wednesday a new sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean that was operating illicitly in international waters, according to the Southern Command.

“The War Department, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, has, without incident, detained a stateless and sanctioned tanker that was part of the dark fleet,” the Command stated on X.

A U.S. official told The New York Times that the ship was falsely sailing under a Cameroonian flag, however, the Command only placed it within the dark fleet, which is the opaque network of ships that move oil from sanctioned countries, such as Venezuela or Iran, and in which flags of convenience, such as Panamanian or Cameroonian, predominate.

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“The intercepted vessel, the M/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea. The United States Coast Guard is escorting the M/T Sophia to the United States for final disposition,” the Command added in the message.

The operation was framed within Operation South Lance, as the Donald Trump Administration named the military offensive in the Caribbean against alleged vessels suspected of drug trafficking and transportation of sanctioned oil.

The U.S. Coast Guard also boarded the tanker “Marinera”, formerly known as “Bella 1”, this Wednesday after nearly three weeks of pursuit, local media reported.

With these two, the number of oil tankers seized by Washington since the pressure campaign against the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, began, now totals four, who is now detained in New York to face charges of narcoterrorism, possession of weapons, among others.