The United States Coast Guard on Friday seized a sanctioned vessel off the coast of Venezuela, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters. The Coast Guard is leading the operation with support from the U.S. military, including helicopters used to ferry personnel and conduct aerial surveillance.
The move follows a separate interdiction last week in which U.S. authorities stopped a large sanctioned oil tanker near Venezuela’s coast, escalating pressure on Caracas and enforcement of U.S. sanctions.
Details of the Seizure
Officials said the earlier tanker—known as the Skipper and previously identified by the US Treasury Department as the Adisa—was part of a sanctions-evasion network. U.S. authorities allege it transported Iranian oil, generating revenue for Hezbollah and Islamic Revolutionary Guard.
Following that interdiction, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on six additional vessels believed to be carrying Venezuelan oil.
Second Vessel Stopped
On Saturday, U.S. forces stopped a second merchant vessel in international waters off Venezuela’s coast, two American officials told Associated Press. The tanker stopped voluntarily and permitted U.S. forces to board, one official said.
The officials were not authorized to discuss the ongoing operation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Political Context and Escalation
Earlier this week, Donald Trump did not rule out the possibility of war with Venezuela and ordered what he described as a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the country—tightening pressure on President Nicolás Maduro.
After the prior interdiction, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the action was meant to “push back on a regime” accused of facilitating deadly drug flows into the United States.
The administration’s campaign has already resulted in 28 known boat strikes that have killed more than 100 people, including a reported “double-tap” strike now under scrutiny by members of Congress.
