U.S. Seizes Seventh Tanker Linked to Venezuela as Southcom Captures Sagitta

Overview

• U.S. Southern Command said forces apprehended the Motor Vessel Sagitta in the Caribbean without incident after it operated in challenge to the quarantine order.
• The action marks the seventh tanker seizure since President Trump announced a December blockade targeting vessels tied to Venezuelan oil shipments.
• According to Associated Press details cited in Brazilian coverage, the Sagitta sails under Liberia’s flag, is owned and managed by a Hong Kong company, last signaled from the Baltic more than two months ago, and is under U.S. Treasury sanctions linked to Russia.
• Southcom released a video of the operation that did not show a boarding, and it did not say whether the U.S. Coast Guard assumed custody as in some earlier cases.
• The U.S. asserts it is controlling Venezuelan oil flows and has sold some cargoes, which interim Venezuelan authorities dispute as they claim continued control and say PDVSA is negotiating sales with U.S. counterparts.