- The U.S. Coast Guard has intercepted and seized the Panama-flagged tanker “Centuries” off the coast of Venezuela. This is the second such seizure in under two weeks, following the earlier capture of the tanker “Skipper” on Dec. 10.
- U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, aimed at cutting off funding to Nicolás Maduro’s government.
- U.S. officials claim the tankers are part of Venezuela’s shadow fleet transporting sanctioned oil and funding narco-terrorism. Approximately 70 oil tankers in Venezuelan waters are part of the shadow fleet, with at least 38 under U.S. sanctions.
- “Centuries” was transporting around 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan Merey crude, reportedly bound for China.
- Caracas condemned the actions as “theft and hijacking,” calling it “a grave act of international piracy,” and vowed to pursue legal action at the United Nations Security Council and other international forums.
US Seizes Second Venezuelan Oil Tanker Amid Rising Tensions
