The US military says another tanker linked to Venezuela has been seized as Trump continues his moves to control the country’s oil reserves.
Published on January 16, 2026
The United States military has seized an oil tanker in the Caribbean that the Trump administration says has links to Venezuela. A sixth tanker was seized Washington has taken full control of Venezuela’s oil resources.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the US Coast Guard boarded the tanker Veronica early Thursday morning.
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Noem said the vessel had previously passed through Venezuelan waters and was operating in violation of President Donald Trump’s “sanctioned quarantine of vessels in the Caribbean.”
US Marines and sailors stationed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford participated in the operation along with a Coast Guard tactical team, which conducted the boarding.
The US military said the vessel was captured “without incident”.
The Veronica is the sixth sanctioned tanker seized by the US military as part of President Trump’s pledge to indefinitely control the production, refining and global distribution of Venezuelan oil products. This was also Fourth ship seized The US kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro almost two weeks ago in a military operation in Caracas.
As the latest seizure occurred Venezuela’s Interim President Delcy RodríguezParliament on Thursday said it would amend the law governing Venezuela’s oil sector. The Hydrocarbons Act, among other provisions, limits the participation of foreign entities in exploiting the country’s national resources.
Without elaborating, Rodriguez told parliament that the reforms would touch on Venezuela’s so-called anti-blockade law, which provides the government with tools to counter US sanctions starting in 2019.
Rodríguez said the envisioned legal reforms would provide money for “new sectors, areas where there has never been investment and areas where there is no infrastructure”.
Rodríguez also said the oil funds would go to workers and public services.
Oil exports are Venezuela’s main source of revenue.
Following Maduro’s abduction, Trump has claimed that the US now controls Venezuela’s oil sector and has explained that The Taking possession of the vast oil reserves of the country The main target of his military attack was the nation and its leader.
Addressing oil executives last week, Trump said: “You’re dealing directly with us and not dealing with Venezuela at all. We don’t want you dealing with Venezuela.”
Venezuela holds a fifth of the world’s oil reserves and was once a major supplier of crude to the United States.
But Venezuela produces just 1 percent of the world’s total crude output in 2024, according to OPEC, hampered by years of underinvestment, U.S. sanctions and sanctions.