The U.S. Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, apprehended an oil tanker in international waters on Wednesday, Dec. 20, that had recently docked in Venezuela. The move comes as the U.S. increases its military presence in the Caribbean Sea and amid accusations against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a terrorist organization.
Oil Tanker Seizure
The operation involved a specialized tactical team boarding the vessel, identified as the Centuries, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem shared a seven-minute video of the operation on X, showing U.S. helicopters landing on the ship’s deck.
The Centuries is flagged in Panama, but has also sailed under the flags of Greece and Liberia in the past five years. It is not currently listed on the U.S. Treasury’s list of sanctioned vessels.
“The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region,” Noem wrote on X. “We will find you, and we will stop you.”
Venezuela’s Response
The Venezuelan government condemned the seizure, stating that “these acts will not go unpunished.” The government intends to file a complaint with the UN Security Council and “other multilateral agencies and the governments of the world.”
This is the second such seizure in recent weeks. The U.S. previously seized an oil tanker, the Skipper, believed to be part of a “ghost fleet” operating off the coast of Venezuela. Maduro has claimed the U.S. “kidnapped the crew” and “stole” the ship.
U.S. Actions in the Caribbean
The U.S. has been building up its military presence in the Caribbean Sea and has carried out strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats in recent weeks, resulting in approximately 100 deaths. The U.S. has not provided public evidence linking these vessels to drug trafficking, and the military actions are facing increased scrutiny from Congress.
The U.S. accuses Maduro of leading the Cartel de los Soles, a designated terrorist organization, allegations he denies. The Trump administration has accused Maduro and the group of using “stolen” oil to finance activities including “Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping.”
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X that the U.S. will continue “unflinchingly conduct maritime interdiction operations… to dismantle illicit criminal networks.” He added, “Violence, drugs, and chaos will not control the Western Hemisphere.”
Venezuela, possessing the world’s largest proven oil reserves, relies heavily on oil export revenues to fund government spending.
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