U.S. forces have taken control of the sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean, continuing an intensified enforcement campaign against vessels linked to illicit oil trades involving Russia and Venezuela. The tanker, Sagitta (IMO 9296822), is the seventh vessel seized in recent weeks amid Washington’s push to block sanctioned oil flows in the Western Hemisphere.
Maritime intelligence indicates that the Sagitta previously supported Russian oil exports before being sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in early 2025. Afterward, the vessel reportedly shifted to carrying fuel oil from Venezuela under altered registration details, a practice commonly associated with so-called “shadow fleet” operations. Video released by U.S. Southern Command suggests the tanker was not carrying cargo at the time of seizure.
The ship was designated by the Office of Foreign Assets Control for breaching the G7 price cap mechanism on Russian crude and for operating within opaque ownership and management structures. U.S. authorities say the Sagitta was part of a broader network of aging tankers used to move sanctioned oil while evading international restrictions.
The seizure follows a series of similar actions since mid-December, after Washington announced a comprehensive blockade on sanctioned oil tankers operating in and around Venezuela. Previous operations have targeted multiple tankers in international waters, drawing criticism from Moscow, which has described the actions as unlawful and warned of possible retaliation.
U.S. Southern Command says the ongoing campaign is intended to disrupt sanctions-busting networks and reinforce maritime security in the Caribbean region.
