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U.S. seizures of Venezuelan oil
Former President Donald Trump publicly intensified U.S. measures against Venezuela by endorsing seizures of oil tankers and signaling a continued policy of blocking sanctioned shipments.
“the Coast Guard, with Defense Department support, carried out a pre-dawn seizure of a tanker accused of transporting sanctioned Venezuelan oil”
His administration framed the moves as law-enforcement action, while Caracas and other states called them theft.
U.S. officials and Homeland Security posts described predawn Coast Guard boardings and seizures of tankers they said were moving Venezuelan crude after Trump urged "a TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS."
Multiple outlets reported this was at least the second interception in recent weeks.
Venezuela immediately denounced the moves and vowed legal retaliation, calling the seizures "theft and hijacking" and accusing Washington of attempting to seize Venezuelan oil to pressure or remove President Nicolás Maduro.
Vessel sanctions and interdictions
Reporting across outlets documents a string of interdictions and named vessels, including the Panama-flagged Centuries and earlier targets such as the Skipper, with U.S. authorities saying some ships were part of a shadow or dark fleet used to disguise movement of sanctioned crude.
The Coast Guard, with Pentagon backing according to several reports, has been credited with coordinated boardings.
Officials described at least one ship as carrying Venezuelan Merey crude destined for Asia.
At the same time, multiple reports note legal questions about whether specific seized vessels had been publicly designated by Treasury sanctions lists.
Some maritime lawyers and analysts said the Centuries was not on OFAC lists even as U.S. officials described it as part of evasion networks.
Global response divided
Caracas called the seizures 'theft and hijacking' and threatened U.N. and legal action.
“Caracas denounced the action as “theft and hijacking” and “a serious act of international piracy"”
Beijing and Moscow warned against unilateral U.S. measures.
China's foreign ministry and senior observers described the moves as arbitrary and a breach of international law.
Several outlets emphasized legal warnings that a declared blockade could be treated as an act of war.
Some U.S. officials and supporters framed the interdictions as necessary to cut off revenue for criminal networks, described in some reports as 'narco‑terrorism'.
Critics, including rights groups and legal analysts, warned of dangerous escalation and unclear legal footing.
Venezuelan shipping disruptions
Analysts and market reporters say the seizures and Trump's blockade rhetoric have pushed buyers and shippers into a so-called "shadow fleet" that obscures vessel identities.
They also report that visible exports from Venezuelan ports have fallen sharply and warn that sustained interdictions could tighten supplies.
Tracking groups and market analysis cited in coverage say dozens of tankers using obfuscated signals or changing flags have clustered around Venezuela.
Commentators linked at least one price uptick to the operations and warned that prolonged enforcement could remove significant volumes from global flows.
Disputed vessel seizure coverage
Across the coverage there remain unresolved factual gaps and sharply divergent narratives.
“the vessel had not been publicly designated by the Treasury Department’s OFAC”
Some outlets emphasize U.S. legal and security rationales and footage and official posts from Homeland Security.
Others foreground Venezuelan and allied states' descriptions of theft, piracy, and possible disappearances of crew.
Reporting also varies on whether seized vessels were formally sanctioned beforehand, the exact legal authority used, and how far Washington intends to press a blockade.
Given these differences, the assembled accounts show a contested, high-stakes confrontation in which facts (designations, judicial orders, exact cargoes) are reported inconsistently and many outlets primarily relay competing official claims rather than independent verification.