The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing a third sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, Reuters reported, as the Trump administration escalates its crackdown on Venezuela’s “dark fleet”—vessels accused of evading sanctions and trafficking stolen oil. The move follows two recent seizures and comes amid growing criticism of the White House’s aggressive tactics, including military strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
CARACAS/WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard is actively pursuing a third sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, part of what a U.S. official described as Venezuela’s “illegal sanctions evasion” network, Reuters reported. The latest operation comes just days after the U.S. seized a second tanker in less than two weeks, ramping up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s regime—which the Trump administration accuses of stealing oil and fueling global drug trafficking.
A “Dark Fleet” Under Fire
The targeted vessel, which a U.S. official said was flying a false flag, is subject to a judicial seizure order. The Coast Guard’s pursuit follows the December 10 seizure of the Skipper, a sanctioned tanker operating as part of Venezuela’s shadow fleet—a network of vessels that the U.S. claims operates outside international law to transport sanctioned cargo.
On Saturday, the Coast Guard and Navy seized the Centuries, a Panama-flagged tanker the White House called a “falsely flagged vessel” involved in trafficking stolen Venezuelan oil. The seizures are part of a broader “blockade” strategy President Donald Trump announced after the first tanker was captured, vowing to cut off Venezuela’s oil trade.
“We will carry out a blockade of Venezuela,” Trump declared after the December 10 seizure, doubling down on his hardline stance against Maduro’s government.
Trump’s Pressure Campaign
The latest crackdown coincides with Trump’s demands that Venezuela return assets seized from U.S. oil companies—a dispute dating back decades. The U.S. once dominated Venezuela’s oil sector, but nationalization efforts under Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chávez, led to confiscations and unresolved compensation claims, including a 2014 arbitration ruling ordering Venezuela to pay $1.6 billion to ExxonMobil.
Trump has justified his aggressive tactics—including military strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels—as necessary to combat fentanyl trafficking and protect U.S. interests. Since September, the U.S. military has conducted 28 strikes, killing 104 people, NBC News reported. Critics, including Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), argue the strikes lack congressional authorization and risk extrajudicial killings.
“We should be using sanctions and other tools to punish this dictator,” Kaine said Sunday on Meet the Press. “But we should not be waging war without a vote of Congress.”
Maduro’s Defiance
Maduro, in a Sunday Telegram message, denounced the U.S. actions as “psychological terrorism“ and “corsair attacks” on Venezuela’s oil tankers.
“We are ready to accelerate the pace of our deep revolution!” Maduro declared, vowing resistance against U.S. pressure.
A Controversial Strategy
The Trump administration’s tactics have drawn bipartisan scrutiny. While Republicans praise the “blockade” as a necessary measure to cripple Maduro’s regime, Democrats and human rights groups warn of unintended consequences, including civilian casualties and escalating tensions.
“Trump wants to keep blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle,” White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told Vanity Fair last week.
What’s Next?
As the Coast Guard’s pursuit continues, the standoff between Washington and Caracas shows no signs of easing. The U.S. is likely to intensify its “blockade”, while Maduro’s regime digs in—raising the risk of a prolonged confrontation.
“This is a high-stakes gamble,” a Latin America analyst said. “The question is whether Trump’s pressure will break Maduro—or backfire.”
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