The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a more than seven-minute video this week showing the U.S. boarding, inspecting and seizing the Panama-flagged supertanker M/T CENTURIES owned by a Chinese company in the international waters of the Southern Caribbean near the coast of Venezuela.
The operation was led by the U.S. Coast Guard’s Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT) and was supported by the U.S. Navy.
According to U.S. officials, this is the second time in just a few days that a sanctioned oil tanker has been seized in the region.
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The move comes after U.S. President Donald Trump announced on December 17 a total blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
Officials involved in the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not reveal the exact location of the boarding but confirmed that the Coast Guard played a leading role in the operation.
The first seizure, carried out about a week ago, has had an immediate impact on the flow of Venezuelan oil exports.
Impact on Exports and “Shadow Fleet”
Venezuela’s oil exports fell sharply after the first action. Several loaded ships remain in Venezuelan waters to avoid being detained. However, the lockdown is not considered absolute.
Although many ships involved in transporting Venezuelan oil are subject to sanctions, there are other ships carrying oil from Venezuela, as well as crude oil from Iran and Russia, that are not included in the sanctions list. Some companies, including America’s Chevron, still use their own ships to transport Venezuelan oil under specific licenses.
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In response to international pressure, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ordered the Venezuelan navy to provide escort for ships transporting petroleum products. Several ships have set sail from Venezuela to Asia under naval escort, but according to available information, none of these ships have been officially included in the list of sanctioned oil tankers.
The latest series of seizures highlights Washington’s continued escalation of maritime logistics measures related to Venezuelan oil, and also shows that the United States is further strengthening its control over energy routes in the Caribbean.
Source & Photo: Homeland Security X @DHSgov | Secretary Kristi Noem X @Sec_Noem. This content is produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.
