Newly released images capture U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team (TACLET) operators intercepting, boarding, and securing the stateless, sanctioned crude oil tanker M/T Sophia in international waters off Venezuela’s coast on January 7, 2026.
The M/T Sophia, described by U.S. Southern Command as a stateless, sanctioned “dark fleet” motor tanker, was intercepted in the Caribbean Sea near the northern coast of South America while carrying an estimated two million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil. Officials say the vessel had operated with its transponder turned off for months as part of a clandestine network moving embargoed oil in violation of U.S. sanctions.
Images from the operation show TACLET personnel approaching the tanker in small boats before scaling its hull and moving methodically across the deck to secure the crew and critical spaces. The boarding occurred under cover of darkness in rough seas, with Coast Guard and U.S. military assets providing overwatch to ensure the safety of the boarding team and prevent any attempt to flee or scuttle the ship.
According to U.S. Southern Command, the Sophia was targeted as part of a wider campaign to disrupt a “shadow fleet” used by Venezuela and its partners to evade sanctions and move oil covertly to global markets. Officials say the seizure is one of several recent tanker operations aimed at tightening enforcement following the fall of Nicolás Maduro’s government and Washington’s renewed focus on controlling illicit energy flows from the region.
Following the boarding, TACLET members conducted a sweep of the vessel, verified its stateless status, and secured navigation and engineering spaces before placing the tanker under U.S. control. The Sophia is now being escorted to a U.S.-controlled port, where its cargo is expected to be offloaded under court supervision and could eventually be sold, with proceeds earmarked to support Venezuela’s population through internationally monitored mechanisms.
U.S. officials hailed the operation as a demonstration of continued maritime security and sanctions-enforcement capabilities in the Western Hemisphere. They emphasized that the high-risk boarding by TACLET operators highlights the Coast Guard’s frontline role in countering sanctions evasion, illicit shipping practices, and stateless vessels that seek to operate in the shadows of global trade.
