The United States is preparing to hand over a tanker it seized earlier this month to Venezuelan authorities, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Wednesday.
The vessel being returned is the Panama‑flagged supertanker M/T Sophia. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, did not explain why the tanker was being returned.
This is part of a broader U.S. effort, spanning several months, to intercept oil tankers linked to Venezuela. Since late last year, the United States has seized at least seven such vessels.
The U.S. Coast Guard, which leads the interdiction and seizure missions, has not yet responded to requests for comment, and Venezuelan government spokespeople have also not replied to inquiries.
On January 7, U.S. Coast Guard and military forces intercepted the Sophia while it was transporting oil. At the time, the U.S. described the sanctioned tanker as a “stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker.” It remains unclear whether any oil remains on board.
Meanwhile, U.S. policy toward Venezuela has been sharply focused on its oil industry. After unsuccessful diplomatic efforts to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power, the U.S. carried out a dramatic operation to capture him earlier this month. Since then, the U.S. has signaled plans to manage Venezuela’s oil resources and invest in revitalizing the country’s struggling petroleum sector.
Experts have also noted that many of the tankers targeted in U.S. actions are older and lack proper safety certification or insurance, raising concerns about their threat to shipping and the environment.