The stepped-up maritime enforcement comes after President Donald Trump warned last week that his administration could impose what he called a “total and complete blockade” on any sanctioned tanker traveling to or from Venezuela. Analysts say a blockade would further squeeze the country’s already fragile economy, where oil exports provide the bulk of government revenue.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro dismissed the threat, pledging that his country would continue selling crude abroad and accusing Washington of seeking regime change. “Venezuela will never be a colony of anything or anyone,” Maduro said in remarks broadcast on state television.
In parallel with the tanker seizures, the United States has amassed its largest military presence in the Caribbean in decades, including deployment of the world’s largest aircraft carrier. Pentagon officials say the buildup supports expanded counter-narcotics operations. Since the campaign began, U.S. forces have struck 28 alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, resulting in at least 100 fatalities. The Defense Department has not publicly released evidence that the targeted vessels were carrying drugs or identified the individuals killed.
The rapid series of interdictions has drawn mixed reactions in Washington. Some lawmakers applauded the moves as necessary to choke off revenue that the Maduro government could use to fund armed groups. Others, including Senator Rand Paul, warned that the seizures could be a “prelude to war” and urged the administration to consult Congress before escalating further.
Maritime analysts note that tankers linked to Venezuela frequently switch off transponders, falsify ownership records or fly unauthorized flags to obscure their routes—a practice known as “going dark.” U.S. officials argue that such tactics complicate enforcement of sanctions designed to pressure Maduro to negotiate political reforms.
Imagem: Internet
Under U.S. law, vessels that violate sanctions or participate in money-laundering schemes can be subject to civil forfeiture, criminal penalties and seizure by American authorities. Once a U.S. court issues a seizure warrant, agencies such as the Coast Guard can take custody of a ship wherever it is found in international waters. Additional legal guidance on these procedures is available through the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s sanctions program.
Saturday’s captured tanker is being escorted to a secure location for inspection and possible forfeiture proceedings, officials said. The crew is expected to undergo questioning by federal agents, who will examine the ship’s logs, cargo documentation and electronic data to determine whether it knowingly carried sanctioned crude.
The Coast Guard has not disclosed the name, flag state or ownership structure of the vessel now under active pursuit. However, authorities indicated that evidence linking the ship to sanctionable activity justified immediate action. Should the pursuit result in another seizure, it would mark the third U.S. interception of a Venezuela-linked tanker in less than two weeks.
Industry observers predict increased scrutiny of tankers operating in the Caribbean and Atlantic as the United States intensifies efforts to curb illicit oil shipments. Ship-tracking firms report that several vessels recently abandoned planned calls at Venezuelan ports, a sign that owners may be reassessing the risks of potential U.S. enforcement.
For now, the Coast Guard has signaled that operations will continue. “We will find you, and we will stop you,” Noem said in her online statement, underscoring the administration’s commitment to disrupting any maritime activity it views as undermining the sanctions regime.
Crédito da imagem: @Sec_Noem
