Three tankers previously sanctioned by the U.S. for shipping Iranian and Russian oil, recently in Venezuelan waters in addition to MARINERA and HYPERION, are now officially flying the Russian flag, according to a New York Times live update shared on X by @trbrtc between 5:45 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. UTC on January 7, 2026. The X post linked to a New York Times article section on Venezuela, Maduro, and U.S. President Trump, stating the development was just discovered over the past hour. This follows U.S. sanctions targeting vessels involved in such oil transport, as noted in prior U.S. Department of the Treasury actions. Separately, an X post by @OrlvndoA during the same period claimed orders to arrest Venezuelans celebrating "Trump's operation in Venezuela" come directly from Diosdado Cabello, presented as data without further verification. These reports emerge amid Venezuelan regime adjustments following the U.S. Delta Force capture of Nicolás Maduro in Caracas last Saturday, including Delcy RodrĂguez's appointment of U.S.-sanctioned Gustavo González LĂłpez as DGCIM director earlier on January 7, as previously covered.
