The United States has seized another Venezuela-linked tanker, U.S. officials told Reuters on Thursday (January 15), ahead of a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.

Monochrome video showed a helicopter flying next to the tanker and U.S. troops on board.

Reuters confirmed the identity of the vessel as the tanker Veronica by structures on the deck, bridge, crane, and smokestack, which matched file imagery of the ship. Reuters could not independently verify the location and the date when the video was filmed. However, U.S. officials told Reuters the seizure of the tanker happened on Thursday (January 15) and the U.S. military's Southern Command identified the seized vessel as Veronica.

The seizure marks the sixth vessel targeted in recent weeks that was either carrying Venezuelan oil or had done so in the past. The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the seizure took place in the Caribbean.

The U.S. military's Southern Command confirmed the pre-dawn operation, saying U.S. forces apprehended Motor/Tanker Veronica "without incident." It said the Veronica was "operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean."

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

AT SEA (JANUARY 15, 2026) (US SOUTHERN COMMAND - Must on-screen courtesy US SOUTHERN COMMAND)(MONOCHROME) (MUTE)

1. VARIOUS OF VERONICA TANKER IN CARIBBEAN SEA

2. U.S. TROOPS ON BOARD VERONICA

3. VARIOUS OF HELICOPTER FLYING NEAR VERONICA TANKER