Homeland Security says the ship carried Venezuelan crude bound for Asia as Caracas condemns “piracy.”
WASHINGTON — U.S. forces on Saturday boarded and seized a Panama-flagged oil tanker in international waters east of the Caribbean, the second such operation near Venezuela this month, and on Sunday moved to track a third vessel tied to sanctioned crude movements, officials said.
Officials said the weekend seizure followed a Dec. 10 interception off Venezuela’s coast and is part of a stepped-up campaign to enforce oil sanctions on President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the interdictions target a “dark fleet” moving Venezuelan crude to finance illicit networks. Venezuela’s government denounced the action as “international piracy” and said it would complain to the United Nations. The operations mark an escalation with economic and diplomatic stakes, including possible pressure on global oil flows and heightened military risk in a crowded sea lane.
U.S. officials said Saturday’s operation involved armed Coast Guard personnel approaching by helicopter and small boats before boarding the tanker, which they described as Panama-flagged and carrying Venezuelan Merey crude bound for Asia. Secretary Noem said video of the raid would be released to document the boarding. President Donald Trump, who earlier ordered a “total” blockade on sanctioned tankers, told reporters the operations would continue. Venezuela’s foreign ministry, in a late-night statement, accused Washington of violating maritime law and interfering with lawful commerce. “This is theft and hijacking,” the statement said, calling for an emergency review by international bodies. No injuries were reported, and the ship was being escorted to a secure anchorage for inspection, according to a U.S. official familiar with the operation.
The tanker is widely identified by shipping trackers and regional officials as the Centuries, a Panama-flagged ship east of Barbados at the time of the boarding and not itself on Treasury’s sanctions list. U.S. officials argued the cargo and routing connected the vessel to sanctioned trade, alleging false flag use and paperwork irregularities. The earlier Dec. 10 action targeted a sanctioned, older tanker that had recently departed a Venezuelan port. On Sunday, a U.S. official said the Coast Guard was “in active pursuit” of a third tanker believed to be operating as part of the same network. Venezuela’s President Maduro called the moves an “imperialist blockade,” while Mexico urged de-escalation and said it was monitoring for spillover effects on regional shipping lanes. Key facts, including the final disposition of the seized tanker and the identity of the third vessel, remained unclear.
U.S. enforcement against Venezuela’s oil sector has ebbed and flowed since 2019, when Washington first targeted state oil company PDVSA over disputed elections and human rights concerns. A brief easing in 2023 gave way to re-tightening after political talks faltered. Analysts said the current push differs in scope, pairing financial sanctions with overt maritime interdictions and public messaging from senior officials. The alleged use of a “shadow” or “dark” fleet—older tankers that obscure ownership, switch flags, spoof locations and conduct ship-to-ship transfers—has complicated oversight. The Biden and then Trump administrations have both warned insurers, port operators and traders about exposure to sanctions risk tied to Venezuelan crude, which is typically blended as Merey and shipped to Asian refineries.
Legally, U.S. officials say Saturday’s boarding occurred in international waters under a federal seizure warrant and authorities connected to sanctions and terrorism finance statutes. The Justice Department is expected to seek court orders to forfeit the cargo and possibly the vessel; a filing could come as early as this week. Venezuela’s diplomats say they will petition the U.N. and maritime bodies to condemn the actions and seek the tanker’s release. The Coast Guard has increased patrols from forward positions in the Caribbean, while the Pentagon has deployed additional maritime surveillance assets. Hearings on sanctions enforcement and regional stability could be scheduled in Congress after the recess, according to congressional aides.
On shore, the episode reverberated from Puerto Cabello to West Palm Beach. Fishermen in Venezuela’s Falcón state described more helicopter flyovers and bigger patrol craft on regular routes. “The sea feels crowded,” said José Luis Pineda, a boat mechanic in Punto Fijo. In Miami, freight forwarders said insurers were demanding more documentation and higher premiums for cargoes transiting the southeastern Caribbean. “Every paperwork discrepancy becomes a hold,” said Ana Rosario, who manages compliance for a small shipper. Energy traders watched for signs the 1.8 million barrels reported aboard the Centuries would be diverted or impounded, a factor that could tighten heavy-sour supply to some Asian buyers.
As of Sunday evening, U.S. officials said the seized tanker remained under escort and the separate pursuit continued in international waters north of Venezuela. Authorities said further updates would follow once custody and legal filings were finalized this week. Venezuela reiterated its complaint and warned of “consequences” if future boardings occur. The next milestone is a Justice Department filing on the cargo, expected in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated December 21, 2025.