A new report claims that at least 16 oil tankers sanctioned by the United States have attempted to breach and evade President Donald Trump’s naval blockade of Venezuelan oil exports in recent days following the administration’s capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
According to The New York Times, at least 16 oil tankers have attempted to evade Trump’s blockade by using dark mode tactics, such as turning off transmission signals. The outlet noted that satellite imagery showed the sanctioned oil tankers had been docked for weeks at Venezuelan ports; however, all 16 of the ships appeared to have left Venezuela’s ports by Saturday.
The New York Times reported that four of the ships have been tracked sailing unauthorized roughly 30 miles east from the shore by misrepresenting their positions and using false ship names. Meanwhile, the remaining 12 sanctioned ships had not broadcast any signals and had not been located by satellite imagery as of Monday.
The new report comes following Trump’s announcement last month of a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela.
On Saturday, Trump confirmed that an embargo on all Venezuelan oil would remain in effect following Maduro’s capture. Trump warned, “The American armada remains poised in position, and the United States retains all military options until United States demands have been fully met and fully satisfied.”
Additionally, an anonymous U.S. official told The New York Times on Sunday that “the quarantine is in effect focusing on sanctioned shadow vessels transporting sanctioned” Venezuelan oil.
Amid the push by the sanctioned oil tankers to breach the U.S. naval blockade of Venezuela, Samir Madani, co-founder of TankerTrackers.com, told The New York Times, “The only real way for oil-laden tankers to break through a naval blockade is to overwhelm it with outbound vessels.”
On Wednesday, U.S. European Command confirmed that the Russian-flagged Marinera oil tanker, also known as Bella 1, was seized in the North Atlantic Ocean. A picture of the vessel was shared on X, formerly Twitter.
“This seizure supports @POTUS Proclamation targeting sanctioned vessels that threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere,” U.S. European Command stated. “The operation was executed by DHS components with support from @DeptofWar, showcasing a whole-of-government approach to protect the homeland.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Southern Command confirmed on Wednesday that the M/T Sophia oil tanker was seized in the Caribbean.
U.S. Southern Command wrote, “In a pre-dawn action this morning, the Department of War, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker without incident.”
“Through Operation Southern Spear, the Department of War is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere,” U.S. Southern Command added. “We will defend our Homeland and restore security and strength across the Americas.”
U.S. Southern Command also shared a video of the oil tanker’s seizure.
