U.S. Seizes "Ghost Fleet" Tankers in Caribbean Raid

The U.S. Coast Guard has seized two oil tankers from a so-called "ghost fleet" in the Caribbean Sea. Officials called the action a "meticulously coordinated" operation. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the boarding. The tankers were part of a shadowy network of vessels used to evade international sanctions. A "ghost fleet" typically refers to older ships that operate with obscured ownership. They often transport oil from sanctioned countries like Iran, Venezuela, or Russia. The U.S. government did not immediately name the ships or their cargo. Such seizures are a key enforcement tool against sanctions evasion. The operation underscores ongoing U.S. efforts to disrupt illegal oil trafficking. It follows increased monitoring of maritime routes in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.