The United States is returning a supertanker it seized earlier this month to Venezuelan authorities, U.S. officials told Reuters.

Axar.az reports that the Panama-flagged ship, M/T Sophia, was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard and military on January 7 as part of a broader crackdown on oil tankers linked to Venezuela and operating under sanctions. Officials have not explained why the vessel is being released or whether it still contains oil.

Many of the “shadow fleet” tankers targeted in this campaign are older and lack proper safety or insurance, raising concerns about environmental risks. U.S. authorities have also been in talks with a Dubai-based recycler seeking to buy and scrap some of these seized vessels.