Previously, the US intercepted seven tankers belonging to Venezuela
According to a Reuters report, the US is returning a tanker seized in January to Venezuela. This is the first instance in the history of the Trump administration where a tanker is being returned.
The M/T Sophia tanker, flying the Panamanian flag, was seized on January 7 by the US Coast Guard. The reasons for the return have not yet been disclosed.
The US administration confirmed that the Sophia is under sanctions and has no official owner, as it belongs to a "shadow fleet."
Since December 2025, the United States has seized seven tankers linked to Venezuela.
On December 10, 2025, the seizure of Venezuelan tankers began when Trump announced the detention of a large oil tanker off the country's coast. This was the Skipper tanker, which was added to the sanctions list in 2022 for smuggling Iranian oil.
On December 17, Trump announced the introduction of a naval blockade against Venezuela.
At the end of the same month, the US detained a second tanker — Centuries, and began pursuing Bella 1, which was flying the Panamanian flag. It later became known that Bella 1 was renamed and entered into the Russian maritime registry. According to The New York Times, Russia sent a note to the US demanding the cessation of the pursuit of this vessel.
After the incident with Bella 1, US forces continued operations against vessels linked to Venezuelan oil.
In early January, the US seized the tanker Marinera, which changed its Panamanian flag to a Russian one while in Venezuelan waters. On January 8, the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned this "illegal action" and called for the cessation of the pursuit.
The Sophia tanker was also seized in the Caribbean Sea, but details were not reported at that time.
On January 3, 2026, the US conducted Operation "Absolute Resolve," during which targets in Caracas were attacked, and President Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured.
They were charged with "narcoterrorism," possession of weapons, and smuggling.
The Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was appointed as the interim president.
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