The U.S. military seized yet another tanker it accused of "operating in defiance of President Trump's established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean."
The vessel in question is called the Veronica. In a social media publication, the U.S. Southern Command detailed that the operation was conducted by "Marines and Sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, in support of the Department of Homeland Security."
"The Veronica is the latest tanker operating in defiance of President Trump's established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean, proving the effectiveness of Operation Southern Spear yet again," the publication added. It concluded that the "only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully."
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 development follows a report claiming that the U.S. has sought court warrants to seize dozens more oil tankers linked to Venezuela's crude trade.
The sources consulted by Reuters said the U.S. government has filed multiple civil forfeiture actions in district courts, mainly in Washington, D.C., enabling the seizure of both oil cargoes and ships involved in Venezuelan crude shipments. The exact number of warrants sought or granted remains unclear because the filings are not public, though the sources said dozens have been submitted.
Many tankers carrying Venezuelan crude remain at sea, including vessels bound for China, the country's largest buyer. Several of those ships have been sanctioned by Washington.
The Trump administration is also looking to secure assets inside the South American country, with a new report claiming it could send private military contractors there.
Several private security companies are looking to be chosen by the administration should it decide to move forward with the decision, especially considering that the U.S. spent about $138 billion on private contractors during the Iraq War, CNN detailed in a new report.
In fact, the Department of Defense has already put out a Request for Information on contractors about their ability to support U.S. operations in Venezuela. Some are also talking with the State Department's overseas building operations office about a scenario in which the embassy in the country reopens.
Restarting the country's oil industry is key for the Trump administration's vision for Venezuela following Maduro's capture. The country this week begun reopening oil wells that were shut during a strict embargo as crude exports resumed this week under close U.S. oversight.
Oil exports from the OPEC member had largely stalled since December after intensified U.S. pressure sharply curtailed shipments, leaving millions of barrels stranded in storage. During that period, U.S. oil major Chevron was the only company authorized to export Venezuelan crude under a limited U.S. license.
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