The United States Coast Guard has seized an oil tanker in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, intensifying the Trump administration’s campaign against the Venezuelan government and its sanctioned oil trade. The operation, carried out on December 20, marks the second known interdiction of a vessel near Venezuela within the past two weeks.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem shared a video of the seizure on social media platform X, showing a U.S. helicopter hovering over a large oil tanker as Coast Guard personnel, backed by military support, secured the vessel’s deck.
According to U.S. officials cited by Reuters, the operation was led by the Coast Guard in international waters following President Donald Trump’s declaration of a “blockade” targeting sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan ports. The officials said the tanker was boarded after a “consented” stop, after which Coast Guard teams took control of the ship.
Confirming the action, Noem said the tanker had last docked in Venezuela and was apprehended in a pre-dawn operation with support from the Department of War. The seizure underscores Washington’s escalating efforts to enforce sanctions and curb Venezuela’s oil exports amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.