U.S. Seizes Tanker Sagitta, Becoming the Seventh Vessel Taken in Sanctions Enforcement Campaign

U.S. military forces have seized another sanctioned crude oil tanker in the Caribbean, marking the seventh vessel apprehended as part of Washington’s enforcement campaign against illicit oil shipments linked to Venezuela, U.S. Southern Command said on 20 January.

Authorities said the seizure was carried out without incident, though no details were released regarding the vessel’s location or crew status. U.S. officials reiterated that oil exports from Venezuela must comply with U.S. sanctions, stating that the tanker was operating in defiance of the administration’s quarantine on sanctioned vessels.

The tanker, which was sanctioned by the U.S., EU, and UK in early 2025, is a 106,000-dwt crude carrier built in 2005 and has traded under the name Sagitta since 2022. Unlike many vessels associated with so-called shadow fleets, it reportedly retained its name but used false or “zombie” identities to mask trading activity.

Shipping analytics indicate the vessel previously transported Russian oil before sanctions took effect, and later resumed operations linked to Venezuelan fuel exports in 2025 despite restrictions. Databases list the ship’s ownership and management in China, with its class withdrawn in late 2024 and no active flag registry since that time.

The seizure comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions following earlier tanker interceptions, including the case of Bella 1 (later renamed Marinera). Russia’s foreign minister again called on the U.S. to release detained Russian seafarers from that case, rejecting suggestions they could face prosecution.

U.S. officials have stated that vessels seized under the operation are often in ballast, reflecting tighter controls on sanctioned cargo movements. The campaign forms part of broader efforts to disrupt shadow tanker activity in the Caribbean.

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