From the Washington Examiner: U.S. maritime forces in the Caribbean apprehended a seventh Venezuelan oil tanker, Sagitta, on Tuesday morning under the banner of Operation Southern Spear.
The operation was conducted by a joint task force in support of the Department of Homeland Security and marks another step in President Donald Trump’s efforts to interdict unauthorized Venezuelan energy exports.
Officials from U.S. Southern Command released a statement on X that said the interception occurred “without incident” and is part of a broader mission to “crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere.”
The seizure of the Sagitta is the latest in a series of interdictions enforcing the maritime “quarantine” established by the Trump administration.
The statement from the U.S. Southern Command reads:
This morning, U.S. military forces, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended Motor Vessel Sagitta without incident. 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. 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.
These operations are backed by the full power our elite joint force team deployed in the Caribbean.
Through #OpSouthernSpear, the @DeptofWar is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere in partnership with @USCG, @DHSgov and @TheJusticeDept.
This morning, U.S. military forces, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended… pic.twitter.com/UPADtiw681
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) January 20, 2026
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