The United States has seized a second oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, the US Southern Command announced, marking the latest move in a crackdown on vessels accused of violating American sanctions on Venezuelan and Iranian crude.
The vessel, identified as the M/T Sophia, was intercepted in a pre-dawn operation in international waters.
The US military described it as a “stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker” and said the US Coast Guard is escorting the ship to the United States for final disposition.
“This interdicted vessel was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea,” the Southern Command said in a statement.
The seizure follows the earlier apprehension of a Russian-flagged tanker, the Marinera, in the North Atlantic.
The vessel had been under US pursuit for weeks after changing its name and re-registering as Russian, following allegations it was carrying Venezuelan and Iranian crude in violation of sanctions.
At the time of interception, the Marinera was empty and located approximately 200 kilometers south of Iceland, according to tracking data.
US officials have described both tankers as part of a “ghost fleet” or “shadow fleet,” a network of vessels that use false registrations, name changes, and deceptive flagging to move sanctioned oil outside conventional oversight.
The head of US homeland security described the operations as “back-to-back” boardings of vessels engaged in illicit activities.
Earlier reports indicated that Russia had deployed a submarine and additional naval vessels to escort the Marinera across the Atlantic. Footage shared by Russian media appeared to show a helicopter near the vessel during its journey.
The US Coast Guard had initially attempted to board the Marinera last month in the Caribbean when it was believed to be heading toward Venezuela.
The tanker subsequently changed course and continued operations under a false flag before being pursued to the North Atlantic.
“These actions demonstrate our commitment to enforcing sanctions and preventing illicit oil shipments in international waters,” the US Southern Command said.
The M/T Sophia operation underscores ongoing US efforts to curb what officials describe as illicit oil trade networks, which have included vessels historically linked to Venezuelan crude and Iranian oil.
