The U.S. Coast Guard is tracking another sanctioned oil tanker in international waters that U.S. officials say is part of Venezuela's "dark fleet" and is subject to a judicial seizure order. If seized, it would be the third Venezuela-linked tanker taken by U.S. authorities this month. The recent Panama-flagged seizure of the Centuries has drawn strong condemnation from Caracas, while White House officials say the actions target black‑market operations and should not significantly affect U.S. fuel prices.
U.S. Coast Guard Tracks Third Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil Tanker as Tensions Escalate
The U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday was pursuing another sanctioned oil tanker in international waters, a U.S. official told CBS News, as the Trump administration steps up operations against vessels tied to the Venezuelan government.
If intercepted and seized, the vessel would be the third Venezuelan-linked tanker taken by U.S. authorities this month.
What Officials Say
A U.S. official described the target as "a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion." The official added the ship "is flying a false flag and [is] under a judicial seizure order." Reuters first reported the Coast Guard pursuit; officials did not disclose the vessel's name or the exact location of the operation.
Recent Interdictions
In a pre-dawn operation on Saturday, the Coast Guard seized a Panama-flagged vessel identified as Centuries. A U.S. official told CBS News the interdiction followed a playbook similar to an earlier seizure of a Venezuela-linked tanker conducted by U.S. forces earlier this month.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly wrote on social media that the Saturday vessel "was a falsely flagged vessel operating as part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet to traffic stolen oil and fund the narcoterrorist Maduro regime."
Venezuelan Response
The Venezuelan government condemned the seizure in a statement, calling it a "serious act of piracy." Caracas said the action reflected a "colonialist model" and warned it would pursue "all corresponding actions, including the complaint to the United Nations Security Council, other multilateral agencies and the governments of the world."
Policy Context And Economic Impact
Last week, President Trump called for a "total and complete blockade" on sanctioned oil tankers entering or departing Venezuela as part of an intensified pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro. Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, told CBS's Face the Nation that the first two tankers seized were operating on the black market and supplying oil to countries under sanctions. He said officials did not expect the seizures to push U.S. fuel prices higher.
Related Maritime Operations
The tanker interdictions come as the administration has also ordered strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that U.S. officials allege are smuggling fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the United States. Officials have reported that at least 104 people were killed in 28 known strikes since early September.
Why It Matters
These operations highlight increasing U.S. maritime enforcement of sanctions and anti-smuggling measures in the region, the legal complexities of seizing vessels on the high seas, and the potential for diplomatic fallout with Venezuela and other international actors.
