Third Tanker Stopped as Pressure Escalates

Red pin on Venezuela, South America map.

Trump’s Coast Guard launched its third tanker pursuit in under two weeks, aggressively targeting Venezuela’s shadow fleet as part of a “total and complete blockade” that’s choking off Maduro’s illegal oil revenue stream.

Story Highlights

Coast Guard pursues third sanctioned Venezuelan tanker in 11 days, vessel resisting boarding
Trump administration escalates naval blockade targeting Maduro’s “shadow fleet” oil smuggling operations
Two previous seizures netted tankers *Skipper* and *Centuries* carrying stolen Venezuelan oil
Operations aim to cut off narcoterrorist funding while Venezuela condemns actions as “piracy”

Trump’s Naval Blockade Intensifies Against Maduro Regime

The U.S. Coast Guard pursued another sanctioned oil tanker in international waters off Venezuela’s coast on Sunday, December 21, marking the third such operation in under two weeks. The vessel, part of Venezuela’s “shadow fleet,” was resisting boarding attempts while operating under judicial seizure orders. This aggressive enforcement represents Trump’s renewed commitment to strangling the Maduro regime’s illegal oil revenue that funds narcoterrorism and undermines American energy interests.

Deputy White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly confirmed the operations target vessels trafficking stolen oil for the Maduro regime. The unnamed tanker joins the *Skipper* (seized December 10) and Panama-flagged *Centuries* (seized December 20) as the latest targets in Trump’s escalating maritime enforcement campaign. These shadow fleet vessels typically operate with false flags or no identification to evade U.S. sanctions while shipping Venezuelan oil to buyers like China and Russia.

Shadow Fleet Tactics Expose Regime’s Desperate Smuggling Operations

Venezuela’s shadow fleet employs sophisticated evasion tactics including falsified documentation, flag manipulation, and aging vessels to circumvent American sanctions. The *Centuries* exemplified these deceptive practices, flying a Panamanian flag while actually serving Maduro’s oil trafficking network. These operations directly fund the regime’s continued defiance of democratic norms while supporting drug smuggling networks that plague American communities with fentanyl and other narcotics.

The Coast Guard’s enforcement actions operate under proper judicial authority, with the Justice Department issuing seizure warrants for each targeted vessel. This legal framework ensures American forces act within constitutional bounds while disrupting illegal sanctions evasion. The rapid succession of three operations demonstrates Trump’s commitment to dismantling Venezuela’s maritime smuggling infrastructure that has operated with impunity under previous administrations.

Economic Warfare Targets Regime Funding Sources

These naval interdictions serve a broader strategy to eliminate Maduro’s primary revenue source while protecting American energy investments. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett emphasized the operations target black market oil sales with negligible impact on U.S. domestic prices. The seized vessels represent millions in lost revenue for a regime already struggling under comprehensive sanctions designed to restore democratic governance to Venezuela.

Maduro’s government predictably condemned the lawful seizures as “piracy” while threatening United Nations complaints. The dictator’s Telegram posts denounced American “corsairs” and vowed to accelerate his “deep revolution” – rhetoric that confirms these operations effectively pressure his illegitimate regime. Venezuela’s reliance on Russian and Chinese support for its shadow fleet operations exposes the regime’s dependence on America’s geopolitical adversaries.

This maritime enforcement complements broader Trump administration actions targeting Venezuelan-linked drug trafficking, with naval strikes eliminating 104 operatives since September. The comprehensive approach addresses both the regime’s sanctions evasion and its role in flooding American communities with deadly narcotics. These decisive actions restore American strength while protecting constitutional principles of national sovereignty and border security.