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US Forces Seize Tankers Linked to Venezuela in Caribbean 'Raid'

Published January 7, 2026, 20:07
US Forces Seize Tankers Linked to Venezuela in Caribbean 'Raid'

A video released by US Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, shows American military personnel taking control of two tankers in the Caribbean. According to Noem, the operation was “methodical and coordinated” and carried out by the US Coast Guard. The vessels, the “Marinera” and “Sophia,” had recently anchored in Venezuela or were en route, and are alleged to be involved in illegal activities. The United States had already seized a Russian-flagged tanker that had been pursued for days as part of the blockade imposed on vessels linked to Venezuela. The “Marinera” had been attempting to evade the Coast Guard for weeks, while the released video shows personnel boarding the “Sophia” via helicopter. The US military states that the M/T Sophia “was operating in international waters and conducting illegal activities in the Caribbean Sea.” The operation was coordinated between the Department of War and the Department of Homeland Security, and the Coast Guard is escorting the vessel to the United States. The video released by Noem shows thermal images of individuals boarding the “Sophia” from a helicopter, followed by approximately 10 people on the ship’s deck. The seizure of the tankers is part of US efforts to restrict Venezuela’s economic activities.