Intensifying US Action Against Venezuelan Oil Fleet: Third Tanker in Pursuit

Mon Dec 22 2025 16:44:16 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The US Coast Guard steps up efforts against Venezuelan oil tankers amid tensions, targeting a third vessel allegedly evading sanctions.

The US Coast Guard is actively pursuing a third oil tanker linked to Venezuela as tensions rise amid ongoing sanctions related to illegal oil trafficking. This follows the seizure of two tankers earlier this month, with accusations that Venezuela is using these vessels to fund drug-related crime. The pursuit spotlights the increased pressure the US government is exerting on the Maduro administration as they seek to disrupt oil exports crucial to Venezuela's economy.

The US Coast Guard is in active pursuit of a vessel in international waters near Venezuela as tensions in the region continue to escalate.

US authorities have already seized two oil tankers this month - one of them on Saturday. The latest pursuit relates to a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion, a US official told the BBC's partner CBS News. It is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order.

The Trump administration has accused Venezuela of using oil money to fund drug-related crime, while Venezuela has described the tanker seizures as piracy. According to the New York Times (NYT), late on Saturday the US Coast Guard approached an oil tanker identified as Bella 1, which was reportedly on its way to Venezuela to pick up oil.

The Bella 1 had been added to the US sanctions list for allegedly carrying sanctioned cargo. When the US Coast Guard attempted to board the tanker, it fled into the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the third target in the US pursuit of Venezuelan vessels. Previously, the Coast Guard seized a tanker named Skipper, which was connected to the transport of sanctioned oil from Venezuela to Iran.

The actions support the US's pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro's government, which relies heavily on oil exports. As these developments continue, tensions between the US and Venezuela grow, culminating in an emergency UN Security Council session requested by Caracas, denouncing US actions as ongoing aggression.