US detains Sagitta tanker from Russia's shadow fleet in Caribbean Sea
US military command has reported the seizure of the oil tanker Sagitta in the Caribbean Sea, which is part of Russia's shadow fleet.
Source: US Southern Command on Х (Twitter); the War&Sanctions portal
Quote from US Southern Command: "This morning, US military forces, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended Motor Vessel Sagitta without incident.
The apprehension of another tanker operating in defiance of President Trump's established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean demonstrates our resolve to ensure that the only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully."
Details: According to War&Sanctions, the Sagitta is listed among vessels involved in transporting Russian oil in circumvention of sanctions imposed by several countries, including Ukraine, the UK, the US, Canada, the EU, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand.
Background:
- US forces took control of two tankers on 7 January, including a Russian-flagged vessel Bella 1 (Marinera) that they had pursued for more than two weeks. The vessels are accused of breaching sanctions.
- The US seized the tanker Olina in the Caribbean Sea on 9 January. According to the public shipping database Equasis, the vessel was sailing under the flag of Timor-Leste, had previously departed from Venezuela and later returned to the region.
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