U.S. Forces Seize Second Venezuelan Oil Tanker After Trump Ordered Blockade

U.S. forces have intercepted another vessel near Venezuela’s coastline as President Donald Trump escalates pressure on Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro to relinquish power and end what the administration describes as state-sponsored criminal activity tied to oil trafficking and narco-terrorism.

The latest seizure occurred early Saturday morning. In a post on X, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said U.S. authorities moved before dawn to stop an oil tanker with direct ties to the Maduro regime.

“In a pre-dawn action early this morning on Dec. 20, the U.S. Coast Guard with the support of the Department of War apprehended an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela,” Noem wrote.

“The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region,” she added in the post, which included a seven-minute video appearing to show a U.S. military helicopter deploying personnel onto the deck of the tanker.

The interception follows Trump’s sweeping action last week designating the Venezuelan government a “terrorist organization” and ordering a “complete and total” blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the country. The Trump administration has also formally labeled Maduro a “drug lord,” accusing his regime of facilitating the flow of deadly narcotics into the United States.

Despite holding the world’s largest proven oil reserves, Venezuela currently produces roughly one million barrels of crude per day — resources the Trump administration says are being exploited to bankroll criminal operations rather than benefit the Venezuelan people.

“Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America. It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

In another post earlier this week, Trump accused the Maduro regime of using stolen oil wealth to finance violence and transnational crime.

“The illegitimate Maduro Regime is using Oil from these stolen Oil Fields to finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping,” Trump wrote. “For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.”

Trump announced that effective Wednesday, the United States would impose a “total and complete blockade” on all oil tankers moving in and out of Venezuela.

“The Illegal Aliens and Criminals that the Maduro Regime has sent into the United States during the weak and inept Biden Administration, are being returned to Venezuela at a rapid pace,” Trump continued. “America will not allow Criminals, Terrorists, or other Countries, to rob, threaten, or harm our Nation and, likewise, will not allow a Hostile Regime to take our Oil, Land, or any other Assets, all of which must be returned to the United States, IMMEDIATELY.”

The terrorist designation came just one week after U.S. authorities seized another oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast. The Trump administration said that vessel was transporting oil from Venezuela to Iran — both nations subject to U.S. energy sanctions. Trump said the United States would retain the seized oil, according to the Washington Times.

U.S. military operations in the region have expanded sharply in recent weeks. The Department of Defense has carried out strikes on vessels it says were involved in drug trafficking, reporting that 28 boats have been hit, resulting in at least 104 deaths. The United States has also deployed an aircraft carrier, additional warships, aircraft, and thousands of troops to the region, with Trump signaling that land-based strikes inside Venezuela remain an option.

The Maduro government has condemned the tanker seizures, calling them “blatant theft and an act of international piracy.” Meanwhile, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said in a recent Vanity Fair profile that the president “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle.”