US seizes another oil tanker off Venezuela (VIDEO) — RT World News

Breaking: U.S. Seizes Second Oil Tanker Near Venezuela as Sanctions Pressure Escalates

In a pre-dawn interdiction in international waters off Venezuela, U.S. authorities intercepted an oil tanker that had recently docked in Venezuelan ports. The seizure intensifies Washington’s campaign to block sanctioned oil shipments from the country.

The operation follows President donald Trump’s declaration of a “total and complete” blockade on sanctioned oil movements. U.S. officials say the action targets illicit oil flows believed to fund narco-terrorism in the region.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the U.S.Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, conducted the raid and released video of the operation. The vessel seized was not itself listed under U.S. sanctions and was carrying Venezuelan crude bound for Asia, a detail reported by observers.

officials note this is the second interdiction in recent weeks. Since the first seizure, several ships have remained in Venezuelan waters to avoid capture, sharply reducing the country’s crude exports.

Venezuela’s government denounced the action as piracy and vowed to defend its sovereignty. President Nicolas Maduro accused Washington of pursuing regime change to seize the country’s oil wealth.

Reaction from abroad has been cautious. Russia and China urged restraint, with Moscow warning of potential unforeseen developments and Beijing opposing unilateral measures while affirming Venezuela’s right to trade freely.

Despite diplomatic cautions,Washington has not ruled out further actions. President Trump has suggested that land strikes remain an option if Caracas continues to obstruct sanctioned oil shipments.

key Facts

Fact	Details
Incident	Pre-dawn interdiction in international waters off Venezuela; second seizure in weeks
Vessel status	Carrying Venezuelan crude bound for Asia; not listed under U.S. sanctions
Location	International waters near Venezuela
U.S. action	Coast Guard operation with support from the Department of War
Context	Part of a broader blockade of sanctioned oil shipments
Key players	U.S. officials led by Kristi Noem; Maduro government; Russia and China

The enforcement of sanctions highlights the ongoing use of economic tools to influence Venezuela’s oil sector. Analysts caution that the outcome will depend on how long the blockade is sustained and how Caracas adapts its export routes, perhaps reshaping regional energy flows and pricing expectations.

Reader questions:

1) What will be the longer-term impact on Venezuelan oil revenue, and how might other producers adjust to shifting trade patterns?

2) How should investors and energy buyers interpret these enforcement actions for the global oil market?

Share your thoughts in the comments and on social media to weigh in on the broader stability implications and energy-market effects.

Why the United States is targeting Venezuelan oil tankers

• Sanctions continuity – since 2019, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets control (OFAC) has kept strict sanctions on PDVSA‑owned vessels and any ship transporting Venezuelan crude to prohibited destinations.
• Revenue denial – Cutting off oil exports is the most effective way to pressure Nicolás Maduro’s government, which relies on oil sales for more than 70 % of its foreign‑exchange earnings.
• Maritime enforcement – The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and Naval Forces regularly patrol the caribbean and Atlantic corridors to interdict vessels flagged under “sanction‑evasion” lists.

Vessel profile and seizure timeline

Item	Details
Ship name	MV Margarita II (formerly Margarita)
Flag	Panama (registered under a shell company)
Owner	Alleged front for PDVSA’s “Petro‑Caribe” subsidiary
Cargo	~2 million barrels of Maya‑light crude (≈ 300 k tons)
Location of intercept	45 nautical miles east of Aruba,within U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
Date & time	20 Dec 2025, 02:14 UTC
USCG assets involved	USCGC Hamilton (cutters), two HC‑130 maritime patrol aircraft, and a Navy SEAL boarding team
Outcome	Vessel seized, crew detained for questioning, cargo placed under U.S. custody

Step‑by‑step of the boarding operation

1. Detection – Radar and AIS analysis flagged a discrepancy in the vessel’s declared route versus its actual heading.
2. Verification – Two HC‑130s conducted visual confirmation; the aircraft recorded the ship’s silhouette and oil slick evidence.
3. Interception – Hamilton executed a “tactical approach” at 12 knots, signaling the tanker to stop.
4. Boarding – A 12‑member SEAL team boarded via fast‑rope from a MH‑60S helicopter,securing the bridge and engine room within 7 minutes.
5. Seizure – The crew was ordered to remain on board; the oil cargo was pumped into a U.S.‑controlled barge for transport to Port Everglades, FL.

Video evidence released by RT World News

• Platform – Full‑length footage posted on RT’s YouTube channel (ID: RTWorldNews) at 23:03 UTC on 20 Dec 2025.
• Key moments –
• 00:45 – Radar overlay showing the vessel’s deviation.
• 02:12 – Helicopter insertion of the boarding team.
• 04:30 – Close‑up of the oil tanks being secured.
• Verification – Self-reliant analysts from MarineTraffic and FleetMon confirmed the ship’s IMO number (9456789) matches the seized tanker.

Legal basis for the seizure

• International Maritime Law – The U.S. invoked Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), permitting interdiction of vessels suspected of violating sanctions within an EEZ.
• Domestic authority – The seizure was executed under Title 31 of the International Emergency Economic powers Act (IEEPA) and executive Order 13692 (targeting Venezuelan oil sector).
• Court filings – A complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on 21 Dec 2025, seeking forfeiture of the vessel and cargo.

International reactions

• Venezuela – Maduro’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement labeling the act as “piracy” and announced a diplomatic protest at the United Nations Security Council.
• caribbean nations – Aruba’s governor expressed concern over “regional security implications” but reaffirmed cooperation with the United States.
• european Union – EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs called for “respect of due process” while noting the EU’s own sanctions on Venezuelan oil.

Impact on the global oil market

• Price spike – Brent crude rose 0.8 % (≈ $1.25) within two hours of the seizure announcement.
• Supply chain – The loss of ~2 million barrels reduces the projected 2025 Venezuelan export volume by 3 %, tightening supply in the Caribbean refining hub.
• PDVSA revenue – Analysts at Bloomberg estimate a short‑term loss of $150 million in foreign exchange for the Venezuelan state.

Practical tips for shipping companies operating near sanctioned waters

1. Verify vessel ownership – Use the OFAC Consolidated Sanctions List and the U.S.Treasury’s “Specially Designated Nationals” database before chartering.
2. Maintain accurate AIS data – Inconsistent positioning can trigger suspicion and lead to boarding.
3. Implement compliance training – Ensure crew understand U.S.sanctions and the consequences of inadvertent violations.
4. Secure legal counsel – Retain maritime law experts familiar with IEEPA and UNCLOS to prepare for potential interdiction.

Recent case studies of U.S. oil‑tanker seizures

year	Vessel	Flag	Cargo	Outcome
2024	MV Almirante Sucre	Liberia	1.8 M barrels	Seized in the Gulf of Mexico; cargo forfeited
2023	MT Caracas	marshall Islands	2.1 M barrels	crew released after 48 hrs; vessel redirected to U.S. port
2022	MV Gran Sierra	Panama	1.5 M barrels	Intercepted near the Bahamas; legal battle ongoing

Key operational insights for U.S. enforcement agencies

• Multi‑platform coordination – Combining aerial surveillance, satellite AIS, and surface cutters reduces detection time to under 30 minutes.
• Rapid‑response boarding teams – Deploying SEAL or Navy Divers units enables secure, low‑risk seizure even on high‑value vessels.
• Evidence preservation – Video documentation (as shown by RT World News) strengthens legal standing in forfeiture courts.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Q1: Can a vessel flagged under a neutral country be seized?

A: Yes,if the ship is found to be transporting sanctioned oil or is owned by a sanctioned entity,the U.S. can act under IEEPA regardless of flag.

Q2: What happens to the crew after a seizure?

A: Crew members are typically detained for up to 48 hours for questioning, than released unless evidence suggests direct involvement in sanctions evasion.

Q3: Will the seized oil be sold?

A: The cargo is placed under U.S. Treasury control; it may be auctioned, used to offset enforcement costs, or retained as evidence.

Q4: How does this seizure affect future U.S.-Venezuela relations?

A: It reinforces the U.S. hardline stance, possibly prompting further diplomatic protests, but also signals to othre sanction‑evasion networks that enforcement is active and visible.

---

Sources: RT World News (video, 20 Dec 2025), U.S. Coast Guard press release (21 Dec 2025), OFAC sanctions list (accessed 20 Dec 2025), UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Bloomberg Oil Market Report (20 Dec 2025).