The United States has taken control of a second oil tanker operating near Venezuela this month, intensifying enforcement actions against ships accused of moving sanctioned Venezuelan oil. The seizure was confirmed by the US Department of Homeland Security and follows a recent announcement by President Donald Trump ordering a strict maritime crackdown on oil shipments connected to Caracas.
According to US officials, the tanker had recently left a Venezuelan port before being intercepted in international waters by the US Coast Guard. The operation involved a specialist boarding team and was carried out in a similar manner to an earlier seizure conducted weeks ago. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly shared footage of the early-morning operation, stating that the vessel was stopped as part of efforts to block what Washington describes as illegal oil trading.
Venezuela reacted sharply to the move, condemning the action as unlawful and accusing the United States of stealing its assets. In a strongly worded statement, the Venezuelan government warned that the seizure would not go unanswered and announced plans to raise the issue at the United Nations Security Council and other international bodies. Caracas has long argued that US sanctions are an attempt to undermine its economy and control its natural resources.
The intercepted ship, named Centuries, sails under the Panamanian flag but has previously been registered in other countries. While it is not currently listed among US-sanctioned vessels, American authorities claim the operation aligns with broader efforts to disrupt networks they allege are funding criminal and terrorist activities through oil exports. US officials maintain that such maritime actions will continue as part of their regional security strategy.
The latest seizure comes amid a visible increase in US military activity in the Caribbean and renewed accusations against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom Washington links to organised crime allegations he strongly denies. With Venezuela heavily reliant on oil revenues to fund state operations, the standoff signals a deepening confrontation that is likely to draw further international attention in the coming weeks.
