The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing a sanctioned oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, U.S. officials said, as the Trump administration expands efforts to disrupt what it describes as an oil-smuggling network used to evade sanctions. Officials said the vessel is operating under a false flag and is subject to a judicial seizure order.
The operation was still ongoing on Sunday, and officials speaking on condition of anonymity did not publicly identify the vessel or specify its location.
One official said the tanker had not been boarded as of Sunday, noting that interceptions can also involve aircraft or ships operating close to a vessel of concern.
What officials have said about the tanker
A U.S. official said the Coast Guard is pursuing a “dark fleet” vessel connected to Venezuela’s sanctions-evasion activity, and that it is operating under a false flag. Another official said the ship is sanctioned but had not yet been boarded.
Reuters reported that maritime risk and tracking sources identified the tanker as Bella 1, a crude oil carrier on the U.S. Treasury sanctions list, and said tracking information showed the vessel was empty as it approached Venezuela.
The pursuit comes after two recent tanker seizures tied to the same pressure campaign:
- Dec. 10: U.S. forces seized the sanctioned tanker Skipper near Venezuela. The Justice Department later released video showing personnel rappelling from a helicopter onto the ship during the boarding.
- Dec. 20: U.S. officials announced the seizure of a Panama-flagged tanker called Centuries. The White House described it as a falsely flagged vessel connected to Venezuela’s “shadow fleet.”
Blockade announcement and sanctions enforcement
President Donald Trump recently announced what he called a “total and complete blockade” targeting sanctioned oil tankers traveling to or from Venezuela.
The Coast Guard actions have been described by administration officials as part of a broader effort to halt shipments tied to sanctions evasion and to increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Reuters has reported that China is the largest buyer of Venezuelan crude, and that Venezuela’s exports rely heavily on intermediaries and shipping practices designed to avoid scrutiny, including the use of vessels that mask ownership or operate with questionable flag registrations.
The Coast Guard is leading the tanker operations, with U.S. military support used in recent interdictions. Fox News reported that the Navy confirmed a significant share of U.S.-deployed Navy ships are currently operating in the Caribbean region.
