U.S. forces conducted an aggressive campaign of sanctions enforcement in early 2026, seizing at least seven Venezuela-linked oil tankers—often Russian-flagged members of the shadow fleet—in the Caribbean, North Atlantic, and Indian Ocean through January and February operations involving the Coast Guard, Navy, Marines, and Special Operations. The most recent confirmed seizure occurred on February 24 in the Indian Ocean, after which activity paused amid reports of eased Venezuela oil sanctions in mid-March and a shift toward U.S. Navy escorts of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz amid Iran tensions. No further seizures have been reported in the past 30 days, reflecting a potential de-escalation in direct interdictions, though ongoing monitoring of sanctioned vessels could prompt renewed action. Traders weigh this lull against persistent evasion tactics by adversaries like Russia and China.