The United States has returned an oil tanker it seized earlier this month to Venezuela, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
The move is the first known instance of the current U.S. administration returning a tanker linked to Venezuela’s oil trade.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the vessel returned is the Panama-flagged supertanker M/T Sophia. They did not explain why the tanker was handed over to Venezuelan authorities.
The decision comes during a months-long U.S. effort to seize oil tankers connected to Venezuela. Since late last year, U.S. authorities have apprehended seven vessels as part of sanctions enforcement.
The M/T Sophia was intercepted on January 7 by the U.S. Coast Guard with support from U.S. military forces.
At the time, U.S. authorities described the tanker as a sanctioned vessel operating as part of a so-called dark fleet, stating that it was effectively stateless.
The tanker was
Content Original Link:
" target="_blank">
