U.S. seizes second oil tanker in Caribbean linked to Venezuela

The United States has seized a second oil tanker in the Caribbean linked to Venezuela. The action escalates tensions between Washington and Caracas and reinforces President Donald Trump’s oil blockade.

U.S. officials said the Coast Guard apprehended the tanker in international waters off Venezuela. The operation took place before dawn with support from the Department of Defense. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the seizure and said the vessel last docked in Venezuela.

Noem said the tanker was involved in the illicit transport of sanctioned oil. She stated that the United States will continue to target oil shipments used to fund narco-terrorism in the region.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the operation supports President Trump’s order for a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers traveling to or from Venezuela. Trump announced the blockade earlier this month. He said it will remain in place until Venezuela returns what he described as stolen U.S. assets.

Trump accused the government of President Nicolás Maduro of using oil revenues to finance criminal activity, including drug trafficking and human trafficking. He also said Venezuela has been designated a “Foreign Terrorist Organization.”

The seizure follows a first tanker interdiction on December 10. In that case, U.S. authorities boarded and seized a sanctioned tanker carrying Venezuelan and Iranian oil. The FBI, Homeland Security, the Coast Guard, and the U.S. military took part in that operation. It marked the first tanker seizure involving Venezuelan oil since U.S. sanctions began in 2019.

U.S. officials have not named the vessel involved in the second seizure. Maritime data firms said the tanker was not listed on U.S., EU, U.K., or UN sanctions registers.

Venezuela condemned the earlier seizure and called it an act of international piracy. President Nicolás Maduro rejected U.S. pressure and said Venezuela will never become an “oil colony.” He vowed to continue oil exports despite the blockade.

The second seizure signals a tougher U.S. approach to Venezuelan oil and maritime trade. Enforcement now extends beyond vessels formally listed under sanctions.

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