US EditionUS handing over seized tanker to Venezuela, officials say
- Reuters reported on Jan 28 that the United States is transferring custody of the Panama-flagged supertanker M/T Sophia to Venezuelan authorities.
- Coast Guard and U.S. military forces interdicted the M/T Sophia on January 7, and the administration said it was a `stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker` under sanctions.
- Anchored off Ponce, Puerto Rico, the oil tanker M Sophia was photographed on January 21, 2026, while U.S. officials spoke anonymously and the U.S. Coast Guard did not immediately respond to requests, Reuters reported.
- Authorities declined to explain the decision, even as seizures of Venezuela-linked tankers have continued through a months-long effort with seven apprehensions since late last year.
- U.S. policy statements and reported plans frame the return within broader moves on Venezuela's oil sector, with President Donald Trump focusing on displacing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and rebuilding the oil industry in a $100 billion plan.
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U.S. Returns Seized Tanker to Venezuela Amid Tensions
The U.S. returned the Panama-flagged supertanker M/T Sophia to Venezuela after seizing it this month. This marks the first instance President Trump's administration has done so amid efforts to seize Venezuelan-linked oil tankers. The move comes amid U.S. actions aimed at exerting control over Venezuela's oil resources.
US handing over seized tanker to Venezuela, officials say
The United States is handing over a tanker to Venezuela that it seized this month, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Wednesday, the first known instance in which President Donald Trump's administration has returned such a tanker.
Washington: Two US officials said on Wednesday that the United States will return to Venezuela an oil tanker it seized earlier this month. This is the first time the Trump administration has announced it will return such a vessel. The US has been trying for months to seize oil tankers linked to Venezuela, and has detained seven tankers since late last year. [The officials said...]
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