Washington DC (US), December 21, 2025, BNN Web Staff — The United States has seized a second oil tanker operating off the coast of Venezuela, further escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas, US officials have confirmed.
The latest interception follows President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of a “blockade” targeting sanctioned oil tankers entering or departing Venezuelan waters.
The move is aimed at curbing the Maduro government’s alleged links to narco-terrorism and cutting off revenue streams generated through illicit oil trade.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the action underscores America’s resolve to crack down on illegal oil shipments. In a post on X, she stated that the United States would continue to pursue sanctioned oil movements that are believed to finance narco-terrorism in the region.
According to officials cited by Al Jazeera, the operation was led by the US Coast Guard with logistical and operational support from the Pentagon.
While the exact location of the seizure was not disclosed, sources said the tanker halted voluntarily, allowing US forces to board it in what was described as a “consented boarding.”
The seizure comes just days after a similar operation against another sanctioned oil vessel, an action that has effectively stalled Venezuelan crude exports. Several oil-laden tankers are reportedly remaining in Venezuelan waters to avoid the risk of interception, resulting in a sharp decline in exports since the first seizure.
Although many ships lifting Venezuelan crude are under international sanctions, some vessels transporting oil from Venezuela, Iran and Russia are not. Certain companies, including US-based Chevron, continue to move Venezuelan oil using authorised vessels.
China remains Venezuela’s largest crude buyer, accounting for around four per cent of its total oil imports. Analysts note that December shipments are expected to average over 600,000 barrels per day. Despite the standoff, global oil markets remain adequately supplied, with millions of barrels currently stored on tankers awaiting unloading off China’s coast.
President Trump’s pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro has also included an expanded US military presence in the region and multiple strikes on vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, actions that have reportedly resulted in significant casualties.
