After vanishing from view, two US-seized Venezuela oil tankers reappear near Puerto Rico

Source: Reuters

After vanishing from view, two US-seized Venezuela oil tankers reappear near Puerto Rico

By Ricardo Arduengo and Arathy Somasekhar
Wed, January 21, 2026 at 8:56 PM EST
3 min read

PONCE, Puerto Rico/HOUSTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Two oil tankers seized this month by the U.S. in its campaign against Venezuela were near Puerto Rico on Wednesday, a Reuters witness and Tankertrackers.com ​data said, the first sightings almost since their capture and a possible hint at their destination.

The ships are supertanker ‌M Sophia, seized by the U.S. on January 7 carrying Venezuelan oil, and the smaller tanker Galileo, formerly called Veronica and taken last week empty, although ‌it has previously carried Venezuelan oil.

The M Sophia and Galileo are among seven vessels linked to Venezuelan oil exports captured by the U.S. military and Coast Guard in recent weeks, mostly in the Caribbean Sea.

U.S. officials have not disclosed destinations or plans for the seized vessels. The U.S. Coast Guard declined to comment, directing inquiries to the White House. The White House did not immediately respond to a ⁠request for a comment.

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Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/vanishing-view-two-us-seized-015614558.html

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Under US control but sailing to an undisclosed destination with their AIS beacons still turned off. Interesting.