US seizes oil tanker near Venezuela, officials confirm

US seizes oil tanker near Venezuela, officials confirm

## U.S. Intercepts Oil Tanker near Venezuela Coast, Intensifying Sanctions Enforcement Amidst Blockade Declaration

By Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart and Nolan D. McCaskill

American authorities have seized an oil tanker operating in international waters near the Venezuelan coastline, an aggressive maritime maneuver confirmed by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The action comes just days after President Donald Trump announced a comprehensive "blockade" targeting all sanctioned oil vessels entering or departing Venezuela.

This recent interception marks the second such incident in recent weeks, occurring amidst a notable U.S. military expansion across the region. Secretary Noem stated that the U.S. Coast Guard had apprehended a tanker last documented as having docked in Venezuela.

"The United States is resolved to stop the illicit transport of sanctioned oil, which serves to finance narco-terrorism in the region," Noem declared in a public statement, adding a stern warning: "We will find you, and we will stop you."

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly further elaborated on the grounds for the seizure, asserting that the vessel contained sanctioned crude. Kelly wrote on X that the ship was a "falsely flagged vessel operating as part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet to traffic stolen oil and fund the narcoterrorist Maduro regime."

### Piracy Allegations and Escalation

Caracas reacted immediately and vehemently, with the Venezuelan government denouncing the seizure as a "serious act of international piracy."

In an official statement, Venezuela "rejects the theft and hijacking of a new private vessel transporting oil, as well as the forced disappearance of its crew, committed by military personnel of the United States of America in international waters." The government indicated that these actions would be formally reported to the United Nations Security Council and other multilateral organizations.

Despite the U.S. claim that the operation targets sanctioned oil, maritime risk management firm Vanguard identified the detained vessel as the Panama-flagged *Centuries*, apprehended east of Barbados in the Caribbean Sea. This particular ship was not, in fact, listed under U.S. sanctions.

Jeremy Paner, a partner at the Washington law firm Hughes Hubbard and a former OFAC investigator, noted that seizing an unsanctioned vessel represents a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s campaign of maximum pressure against Venezuela. He argued that the move seemingly contradicts President Trump’s earlier public statements that the U.S. would impose a blockade against *only* sanctioned oil tankers.

### The Shadow Fleet and Market Impact

The pressure campaign was formalized when President Trump ordered a "TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela."

Since the initial recent seizure, an effective embargo has materialized. Loaded tankers, carrying millions of barrels of oil, are reportedly remaining stationary in Venezuelan waters rather than risking apprehension, leading to a sharp decrease in Venezuelan crude exports.

The trade relies heavily on a "shadow fleet" of tankers—a tactic adopted by traders and refiners buying Venezuelan, Iranian, or Russian oil since the U.S. imposed energy sanctions in 2019. These vessels often disguise their true locations, exposing them to potential punitive measures from Washington, according to shipping analysts.

Internal documents from Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, confirmed that the seized *Centuries* (which had loaded under the alias "Crag") was operating within this dark fleet. It was transporting approximately 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan Merey crude oil destined for Chinese buyers, acquired through intermediaries such as Satau Tijana Oil Trading.

Analysts suggest that while the global oil market is currently well-supplied, a prolonged embargo resulting in the loss of nearly one million barrels per day of crude supply could eventually drive international oil prices higher. China remains the largest purchaser of Venezuelan crude, accounting for roughly 4% of its total imports, with shipments averaging over 600,000 barrels per day in December.

The interception highlights the intensified geopolitical conflict. The campaign against President Nicolás Maduro has included a substantial increase in U.S. military presence and reported military strikes in the Caribbean. Maduro has consistently framed this military buildup as a direct effort by the U.S. to overthrow his government and gain control of the OPEC nation’s immense crude reserves.