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U.S. Forces Seize Sanctioned Tanker ‘Sagitta’ in Caribbean, Marking Seventh Vessel Captured
Mike Schuler January 20, 2026
U.S. military forces apprehended the sanctioned motor vessel Sagitta without incident this morning in the Caribbean, marking the seventh tanker seizure in recent weeks as Washington intensifies its crackdown on sanctioned vessels linked to illicit oil trades involving Venezuela and Russia.
The operation was conducted by U.S. military forces in support of the Department of Homeland Security, according to U.S. Southern Command. “Through #OpSouthernSpear, the @DeptofWar is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere in partnership with @USCG, @DHSgov and @TheJusticeDept,” the command said in a statement posted to X.
“The apprehension of another tanker operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean demonstrates our resolve to ensure that the only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully,” SOUTHCOM added. “As the joint force operates in the Western Hemisphere, we reaffirm that the security of the American people is paramount, demonstrating our commitment to safety and stability.”
According to maritime intelligence firm TankerTrackers.com, the Sagitta (IMO 9296822) had served Russia’s oil export operations for three years before being sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury on January 10, 2025. The vessel then shifted to exporting fuel oil out of Venezuela in August 2025 under what TankerTrackers described as a “zombie alias.”
Video of the tanker shared by SOUTHCOM appears to show the Sagitta is currently unladen.
The tanker was designated by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) because U.S. Treasury determined it was part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” used to move Russian crude above the G7 $60 price cap, helping Moscow evade sanctions and fund the war in Ukraine. OFAC identified its owner as Sunne Co Limited, an entity Treasury says operates in Russia’s energy sector and manages multiple tankers engaged in high-risk, opaque trades.
Equasis data shows the ship was built in 2005 and is registered to Hong Kong-based owner Camellia Jackson LTD. Its current flag is listed as “Not Known” as of January 2024; it was previously registered in Panama.
OFAC cited several key violations: the Sagitta made port calls at Russian terminals where crude was consistently sold above the $60 per barrel cap, violating the G7 mechanism designed to restrict Kremlin revenue. The ship was operating part of a network of aging, often anonymously owned tankers that use murky corporate structures, frequent flag changes, and opaque management to conceal Russian oil movements.
The Sagitta was one of ten tankers OFAC listed as being owned by Sunne Co Limited, which Treasury designated for “operating in the energy sector of the Russian Federation economy.” All Sunne vessels were identified as blocked property under Executive Orders 14024 and 13662. Treasury noted that several vessels in this network have also carried sanctioned Iranian oil, underscoring what officials called serial sanctions-busting behavior.
As a result, all U.S. property interests in the Sagitta have been frozen, U.S. persons are barred from dealings with the vessel, and non-U.S. parties risk secondary sanctions for providing services such as bunkering, insurance, or port access.
The latest seizure follows a pattern of aggressive enforcement actions by U.S. authorities since President Trump announced a “complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela” on December 16, 2025.
Last week, on January 15, U.S. military and Coast Guard forces seized the sanctioned motor tanker Veronica in another pre-dawn boarding operation. Marines and sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, operating from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), took control of that vessel without incident, with support from the Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group, including USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), USS San Antonio (LPD 17), and USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28).
The military and Coast Guard have now seized six vessels in recent weeks in international waters, part of a campaign that has included the January 3 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Earlier seizures include the Olina on January 9, the M Sophia and Marinera (formerly Bella 1) on January 7, and the VLCC Skipper and tanker Centuries in December.
The crackdown has drawn sharp criticism from Moscow. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has labeled the operations “the illegal use of force” and warned it could retaliate by seizing U.S.-flagged ships.
“These operations are backed by the full power our elite joint force team deployed in the Caribbean,” U.S. Southern Command said.
https://gcaptain.com/u-s-forces-seize-sanctioned-tanker-sagitta-in-caribbean-marking-seventh-vessel-captured/