In a coordinated pre-dawn naval operation, U.S. military forces successfully intercepted and seized the motor tanker Veronica in Caribbean waters as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt unauthorized Venezuelan oil exports. The operation, conducted under the banner of Operation Southern Spear, involved specialized Marines and sailors deployed from the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier.
The seizure was executed without incident according to U.S. Southern Command, which characterized the tanker as operating in direct violation of U.S.-imposed sanctions targeting vessels associated with Venezuela’s oil sector. The military command emphasized that this intervention demonstrates continued effectiveness in enforcing maritime quarantine measures against sanctioned Venezuelan oil activities.
This strategic operation featured extensive interagency collaboration between the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of Justice. The broader naval presence supporting these efforts includes assets from the U.S. Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group, notably the USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio, and USS Fort Lauderdale.
U.S. Southern Command framed the operation within its wider hemispheric security objectives, stating that preventing illicit oil shipments from Venezuela remains a priority to ensure that any petroleum exports comply with U.S. legal standards and proper coordination protocols. The command further emphasized that such operations reinforce maritime security partnerships and counter illicit activities throughout the Western Hemisphere.