{"id":2530997,"date":"2026-01-07T13:15:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T18:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-u-s-seizes-second-venezeula-linked-oil-tanker-wednesday-morning\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T13:17:57","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T18:17:57","slug":"breaking-u-s-seizes-second-venezeula-linked-oil-tanker-wednesday-morning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-u-s-seizes-second-venezeula-linked-oil-tanker-wednesday-morning\/","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: U.S. Seizes Second Venezeula-Linked Oil Tanker Wednesday Morning"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbreaking-u-s-seizes-second-venezeula-linked-oil-tanker-wednesday-morning%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2530997&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>U.S. authorities seized a second venezuela-linked oil tanker in a predawn operation, following an earlier seizure of a Russian-flagged tanker that had been pursued for more than two weeks across the Atlantic and reportedly shadowed by a Russian submarine.The newly interdicted vessel, identified as the Panama-flagged M\/T Sophia, was taken in the Caribbean and is being escorted to the United States by the Coast Guard. U.S. Southern Command described the ship as a &#8220;stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker&#8221; that had departed Venezuelan waters and was operating in &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pro-free-speech-youtube-competitor-rumble-sees-active-user-growth-of-76-year-over-year\/\" title=\"Pro-Free Speech YouTube Competitor \u201cRumble\u201d Sees Active User Growth of 76% Year-Over-Year\">dark mode<\/a>&#8221; (transponder off) as part of a fleet moving Venezuelan oil toward China. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem highlighted two back-to-back, meticulously coordinated Coast Guard boardings-one in the North Atlantic and one near the Caribbean-saying the actions aim to disrupt funding for narco-terrorism and that those involved &#8220;can&#8217;t hide.&#8221;  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The United States seized a second Venezuela-linked oil tanker early Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>The action followed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/breaking-us-seizes-venezuelan-shadow-tanker-escorted-russia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">an earlier seizure<\/a> involving a Russian-flagged tanker that had been pursued for more than two weeks across the Atlantic Ocean.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. officials said the first vessel had been shadowed by a Russian submarine before it was taken into U.S. custody, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n<p>Later Wednesday morning, a second ship was seized by the U.S. Coast Guard.<\/p>\n<p>Reuters <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/energy\/us-seizing-venezuela-linked-oil-tanker-after-weeks-long-pursuit-2026-01-07\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a> the Venezuela-linked tanker was taken in the Caribbean before dawn.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>The vessel was identified as the Panama-flagged supertanker M\/T Sophia.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Southern Command described the ship as a &ldquo;stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">In a pre-dawn action this morning, the Department of War, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker without incident.<\/p>\n<p>The interdicted vessel, M\/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/JQm9gHprPk\">pic.twitter.com\/JQm9gHprPk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Southcom\/status\/2008905619424620879?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Southern Command said the Coast Guard was escorting the M\/T Sophia to the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>According to Reuters, the tanker departed Venezuelan waters this past week.<\/p>\n<p>The ship was traveling as part of a fleet carrying Venezuelan oil to China while operating in &ldquo;dark mode&rdquo; with its transponder turned off.<\/p>\n<p>Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem d a video of the second tanker on X later Wednesday.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">In two predawn operations today, the Coast Guard conducted back-to<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >-back meticulously coordinated boarding<\/a> of two &ldquo;ghost fleet&rdquo;&nbsp; tanker ships&mdash; one in the North Atlantic Sea and one in international waters near the Caribbean.&nbsp; Both vessels &mdash;the Motor Tanker Bella I and the Motor&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cFuNDtYR8n\">pic.twitter.com\/cFuNDtYR8n<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KristiNoem\/status\/2008916310332170487?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In two predawn operations today, the Coast Guard conducted back-to-back meticulously coordinated boarding of two &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-best-way-to-rebuild-our-navy-is-to-privatize-it\/\" title=\"The Best Way To Rebuild Our Navy Is To Privatize It\">ghost fleet&#038;rsquo<\/a>; tanker ships,&rdquo; Noem commented on X.<\/p>\n<p>She said the vessels were either last docked in Venezuela or en route there, adding, &ldquo;You can run, but you can&rsquo;t hide.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The world&rsquo;s criminals are on notice,&rdquo; she concluded. &ldquo;We will never relent in our mission to protect the American people and disrupt the funding of narco terrorism wherever we find it, period.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); 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