According to Pentagon data, U.S. military tracked the tanker’s route from the moment it left Venezuelan territorial waters in early January, when it became part of a fleet heading towards China with a cargo of approximately 700,000 barrels of oil. The vessel is under international sanctions from the U.S., Canada, the UK, and the European Union. It was included in U.S. sanctions lists as part of the so-called "shadow fleet" of Russia due to its connections with Sunne Co Limited, a company involved in transporting oil that bypasses established price ceilings amid the conflict in Ukraine.
U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a complete blockade on sanctioned tankers transporting oil from Venezuela in early December. From that moment, U.S. forces began intercepting all vessels leaving Venezuela without the appropriate state affiliation and permission from Washington. At the same time, the U.S. administration accuses Venezuelan authorities of facilitating the illegal import of drugs into their territory.
