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- US seizes 6th tanker in the Caribbean (abcnews.go.com)
U.S. Seizes Another Tanker in Caribbean Amidst Escalating Tensions
In a significant development Thursday morning, the United States seized another tanker in the Caribbean, as announced by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Secretary Noem stated in a social media post that the vessel was “operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean.”
The seizure of the Motor Tanker Veronica was detailed by Secretary Noem in an X post, which included video footage of the operation. She reported that the boarding and seizure occurred without incident during a pre-dawn operation conducted by a Coast Guard tactical team.
According to Secretary Noem, the Motor Tanker Veronica, identified as “another sanctioned ghost fleet tanker,” had previously transited through Venezuelan waters. Its operation in the Caribbean was deemed a direct challenge to the quarantine measures imposed by President Trump on sanctioned vessels in the region.
Further details from the U.S. Southern Command indicated that Marines and sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, launched from the USS Gerald R.
Ford, were responsible for apprehending the Motor/Tanker Veronica. The operation was described as being conducted “without incident.”
This marks the sixth tanker linked to Venezuela to be boarded by U.S. forces in recent weeks, underscoring a period of escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela. The seizure also follows less than two weeks after U.S. military forces captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who are currently facing federal charges including narcoterrorism conspiracy and conspiracy to import cocaine. Both Maduro and his wife have entered not guilty pleas to these charges.
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- US seizes 6th tanker in the Caribbean (abcnews.go.com)