U.S. Coast Guard Pursues Third Sanctistartd Oil Tanker Linked to Venezuela
Ongoing U.S. Operations Against Venezuelan Oil Trade
The U.S. Coast Guard is actively pursuing another oil tanker in international waters, a U.S. official confirmed on Sunday. This vessel is reportedly linked to the Venezuelan government and is part of an escalating pressure campaign by the Trump administration targeting sanctistartd vessels. If intercepted, this would mark the third Venezuelan tanker seized by the U.S. within this month.
According to the U.S. official, the current pursuit involves “a sanctistartd dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion.” The vessel is alleged to be flying a false flag and is under a judicial seizure order. The location of the ongoing operation and the name of the tanker remain undisclosed.
Recent Seizures and Statements
In a related operation early Saturday, the Coast Guard successfully seized a Panama-flagged vessel named Centuries. An official referenced this operation as aligning with a previously executed playbook for seizing oil tankers in the region. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly characterized the Centuries as “a falsely flagged vessel operating as part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet to traffic stolen oil and fund the narcoterrorist Maduro regime.”
The Venezuelan government has condemned the seizure, labeling it as a “serious act of piracy.” In an official statement, they declared that the U.S. government’s actions represent a failing colonialist model and that Venezuela would seek redress through international bodies such as the United Nations Security Council.
Strategic Measures from the U.S. Government
President Trump has recently advocated for a “total and complete blockade” against all sanctistartd oil tankers associated with Venezuela, fortifying the ongoing pressure campaign against President Nicolas Maduro. Earlier in December, reports indicated that the U.S. military had seized a 20-year-old sanctistartd oil tanker just as it was departing from a Venezuelan port.
Kevin Hasset, the director of the White House’s National Economic Council, reassured the public during an interview on CBS’s Face the Nation, stating that these seizures should not cause concern regarding oil prstarts in the U.S. He emphasized that the tankers were part of operations in the black market.
Broader Context of U.S. Naval Operations
The current focus on these tankers aligns with President Trump’s directive to the Defense Department to initiate a series of attacks on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean accused of smuggling fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the U.S. Since early September, there have been 28 reported strikes that have resulted in at least 104 fatalities.
The U.S. government’s actions highlight a continued commitment to enforcing maritime law as it relates to illegal drug trafficking and the enforcement of sanctions against hostile state actors.
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