Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on social media that the US Coast Guard intercepted the Motor Tanker Veronica early Thursday (Friday AEDT).

The US Southern Command reported that Marines and sailors, deployed from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, participated in the operation alongside a Coast Guard tactical team. Noem noted that the boarding was consistent with previous raids. The military confirmed that the ship was seized “without incident.”

Noem shared a brief video clip that seemingly captured the ship’s capture. The monochrome footage depicted helicopters hovering above a merchant vessel as armed troops descended onto the deck via ropes.

The Veronica is the sixth sanctioned tanker apprehended by US forces, part of the Trump administration’s efforts to regulate Venezuela’s oil production, refining, and global distribution. It is the fourth seizure since the surprising nighttime removal of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro nearly two weeks ago.

The last known position of the Veronica was off the coast of Aruba, just north of Venezuela’s key oil terminal, on January 3. At that time, it was reported to be partially loaded with crude oil.

The ship is currently listed as flying the flag of Guyana and is considered part of the shadow fleet that moves cargoes of oil in violation of US sanctions.

According to its registration data, the ship also has been known as the Galileo, owned and managed by a company in Russia. In addition, a tanker with the same registration number previously sailed under the name Pegas and was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department for moving cargoes of illicit Russian oil.

As with prior posts about such raids, Noem and the military framed the seizure as part of an effort to enforce the law. Noem argued that the multiple captures show that “there is no outrunning or escaping American justice.”

However, other officials in Trump’s Republican administration have made clear that they see the actions as a way to generate cash as they seek to rebuild Venezuela’s battered oil industry and restore its economy.

Trump met with executives from oil companies last week to discuss his goal of investing $100 billion in Venezuela to repair and upgrade its oil production and distribution. His administration has said it expects to sell at least 30 million to 50 million barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan oil.