U.S. Coast Guard Seizes Two Venezuelan Oil Tankers in December

On December 20, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard seized a tanker off the coast of Venezuela in international waters, as confirmed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. This operation was part of a broader enforcement campaign targeting Venezuelan oil shipments, following a similar seizure earlier in the month of an oil tanker named The Skipper, which was sanctioned for its involvement in illicit oil operations.

Noem stated on social media that the U.S. will continue to combat the illicit movement of sanctioned oil used to fund narco-terrorism, emphasizing the commitment to stop such activities. In a related operation on December 10, the Coast Guard, supported by U.S.

Navy helicopters, boarded The Skipper, illustrating a significant increase in U.S. military presence and action in the Caribbean. The Venezuelan government responded strongly to these seizures, labeling them as acts of theft and piracy, and announced intentions to escalate their response through complaints to the United Nations.

The seized vessel on December 20, reportedly not on any sanctions list, was transporting oil linked to a China-based trader, indicating the complexities of international oil trade and sanctions enforcement against Venezuela.

The ongoing U.S. pressure campaign against President Nicolas Maduro’s regime aims to disrupt the flow of oil that the U.S. alleges finances narco-terrorism and other illegal activities.