Four Venezuelan Oil Tankers Return After Sailing in ‘Dark Mode’ to Evade US Embargo
Four tankers that evaded U.S. blockade now back in Venezuelan waters.
At least four oil tankers that departed Venezuela in early January while operating in 'dark mode'—with transponders deliberately turned off to avoid detection—have returned to the country's waters. According to state oil company PDVSA and maritime monitoring service TankerTrackers.com, these vessels were part of a larger flotilla that attempted to challenge the strict U.S. embargo imposed by President Donald Trump in mid-December, which severely curtailed Venezuelan oil exports.
The flotilla consisted of approximately a dozen loaded tankers accompanied by at least three empty vessels that left Venezuelan ports last month in apparent defiance of the blockade. Among them, the Panama-flagged supertanker M Sophia was intercepted and seized by U.S. authorities earlier this week during its return journey. In contrast, the Aframax tanker Olina, flying the flag of Sao Tome and Principe, was also intercepted but ultimately released back to Venezuela on Friday, PDVSA confirmed.
Satellite imagery analyzed by TankerTrackers.com revealed that three additional vessels from the original group—the Panama-flagged Merope and Thalia III, along with the Cook Islands-flagged Min Hang—were observed in Venezuelan waters late Friday. These returns mark a significant development amid ongoing tensions, following the U.S. capture and extraction of President Nicolás Maduro last week, which has placed Venezuela under intensified American oversight.
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U.S. officials indicated on Friday that the release of the Olina tanker signals progress toward normalizing organized crude exports. The next phase involves implementing a negotiated $2 billion oil supply agreement between Caracas and Washington. During a meeting with senior oil industry executives on Friday, President Trump stated that discussions regarding the supply deal have advanced considerably.
Global commodity trading giants Vitol and Trafigura have reportedly received the first U.S. licenses this week permitting them to negotiate and handle Venezuelan oil exports. Additionally, supplies of naphtha critical for Venezuela's refining operations are expected to resume soon. These steps suggest a potential gradual easing of restrictions as both sides work toward a structured framework for future petroleum transactions.
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