2:04Motor Tanker Veronica is captured in the Caribbean by a U.S. Coast Guard tactical team, Jan. 15, 2026.U.S. Southern Command
On Thursday morning, the United States apprehended another tanker in the Caribbean, as announced by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. She stated in a social media post that the vessel was "operating in violation of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean."
Secretary Kristi Noem revealed the seizure in an X post, accompanied by footage of the operation, which she reported occurred without any issues.
Motor Tanker Veronica is captured in the Caribbean by a U.S. Coast Guard tactical team, Jan. 15, 2026.U.S. Southern Command
"In the early hours of the morning, a Coast Guard tactical team executed a pre-dawn boarding and seizure of Motor Tanker Veronica in the Caribbean," she mentioned.
"As another sanctioned ghost fleet tanker, Motor Tanker Veronica had previously navigated through Venezuelan waters and was operating in violation of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean," she continued.
According to the U.S. Southern Command, Marines and sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear deployed from the USS Gerald R. Ford and "apprehended Motor/Tanker Veronica without incident."
Motor Tanker Veronica is captured in the Caribbean by a U.S. Coast Guard tactical team, Jan. 15, 2026.U.S. Southern Command
The seized tanker Veronica, previously known as the Texas Star in Tranmere, UK, in April 2019.Howard Harrison
This marks the sixth tanker associated with Venezuela boarded by U.S. military personnel in recent weeks, amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela.
The capture of the tanker occurs less than two weeks after U.S. military forces took into custody President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, both facing federal charges that include narcoterrorism conspiracy and conspiracy to import cocaine. Both Maduro and his wife have pleaded not guilty.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com