The vessel, a “stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker”, was apprehended in a pre-dawn operation, the military adds.

“The interdicted vessel, M/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea,” the US military says in a statement. “The US Coast Guard is escorting M/T Sophia to the US for final disposition.”

Prior to this,, US said on Wednesday it has seized a tanker formerly known as Bella 1 in the Atlantic linked to Venezuelan oil. The operation launched Wednesday, according to two U.S. officials, was led by the Department of Homeland Security with support from the U.S. military.

DID