A photo from 2015 showing the former commercial Ro-Ro vessel Cragside undergoing modifications into the Special Warfare Support vessel in Mobile, AL (Photo: Jabarnes, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Satellite imagery analyzed by open-source researcher MT Anderson shows a vessel matching the U.S. MV Ocean Trader southwest of St. Kitts, a Caribbean island, amid ongoing U.S. counter-narcotics operations targeting Venezuela.

The sighting aligns with the New York Times’ Sept. 20 report detailing the quiet deployment of U.S. special operations forces in Venezuela. Experts told the outlet the move suggests strikes or commando raids inside the country may be in the works.

The Ocean Trader, operated by U.S. Special Operations Command, is a converted roll-on/roll-off ferry designed for clandestine missions. In service since 2013, the vessel can deploy helicopters, fast boats, and surveillance teams, and can accommodate up to 160 personnel. It was last spotted near Bahrain in May.

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