Overview
The U.S. Coast Guard is now chasing a third Venezuela-linked tanker in international waters near Venezuela—under a judicial seizure order. Two other tankers have already been stopped in the past 11 days, including one dramatic helicopter boarding that the administration amplified on social media.
This is bigger than three ships. It’s a live-fire test of how far Washington can push “sanctions enforcement” at sea without calling it a blockade, and how quickly shipping markets—and Caracas—react when the U.S. starts treating oil logistics like a target set.
Key Indicators
People Involved
Organizations Involved
America’s maritime law-enforcement arm, now being used as the tip of a sanctions campaign.
DHS is turning sanctions enforcement into a deterrence-by-publicity campaign.
DOJ supplies the warrants that turn interdiction footage into a court case.
OFAC’s designations turn shipping networks into targets with names, numbers, and consequences.
Venezuela’s oil company—and the economic heart the U.S. is trying to squeeze through shipping.
A Hong Kong-registered single-ship owner pulled into the campaign via the Centuries interdiction.
Timeline
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Third tanker pursued under a judicial seizure order
ForceOfficials say the Coast Guard is actively pursuing a sanctioned tanker flying a false flag in international waters near Venezuela.
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Second tanker stopped: Centuries boarded/seized east of Barbados
ForceU.S. forces stop and board the Panama-flagged Centuries; reporting says it carried a large Venezuelan crude cargo and was allegedly falsely flagged.
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Trump declares a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned tankers
StatementThe administration signals a broader maritime enforcement posture aimed at Venezuela-linked “dark fleet” movements.
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DOJ unseals the Skipper warrant and ties it to terror-finance statutes
LegalDOJ publicly details the seizure warrant and cites statutes used to justify forfeiture and seizure authorities.
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First tanker seized: Skipper taken on the high seas
ForceU.S. forces seize the VLCC Skipper after it departed Venezuela, citing sanctions-evasion activity and a seizure warrant.
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Court signs seizure warrant later used to take Skipper
LegalA U.S. magistrate judge signs the warrant that becomes the legal backbone of the first tanker seizure.
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Maritime strikes begin reshaping the pressure campaign
ForceReporting describes a series of strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels, later totaling dozens and over 100 deaths.
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Treasury names an oil-shipping network tied to IRGC-QF and Hizballah
Rule ChangesOFAC targets Viktor Artemov-linked entities and identifies the tanker Adisa (later Skipper) as blocked property.
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U.S. sanctions PDVSA, tightening the oil-noose
Rule ChangesTreasury sanctions Venezuela’s state oil company, formalizing oil-sector pressure as U.S. policy.
Scenarios
A rolling tanker dragnet freezes Venezuelan exports for weeks
Discussed by: Reuters (officials/analysts), shipping-risk commentary in major outlets, and maritime analysts cited in reporting
The U.S. keeps targeting ships one by one—enough to make insurers, flag states, and shipowners panic. Even without stopping every vessel, the fear of being the next boarding becomes the blockade. Trigger: a publicized third seizure plus clear signals that more warrants are queued.
Courts and allies force a narrower rule: ‘Only clearly sanctioned ships’
Discussed by: Legal experts cited in coverage and skeptics in Congress; criticism highlighted in Washington Post and AP reporting
After stopping a ship described in reporting as not on sanctions lists, the administration faces legal challenges, diplomatic pushback, and congressional heat. The policy doesn’t end—but it tightens: fewer ‘gray-zone’ boardings, more emphasis on OFAC-listed vessels and forfeiture cases. Trigger: adverse court rulings, allied objections, or a politically costly mistake at sea.
A confrontation at sea turns the ‘blockade’ into a shooting incident
Discussed by: Warning voices in Congress and retired military leadership cited in Washington Post reporting
Caracas decides deterrence requires risk. A Venezuelan naval unit shadows a target ship, a boarding goes sideways, or an ally-linked vessel tests U.S. resolve. One exchange of fire would collapse the “law enforcement” framing and force the administration to choose between escalation or retreat. Trigger: Venezuela attempting physical protection of tankers or interference with boardings.
Historical Context
Cuban Missile Crisis Naval Quarantine
1962-10 to 1962-11What Happened
The U.S. used naval power to stop and inspect ships during a superpower crisis—carefully avoiding the legal word “blockade.” The messaging and the legal framing were as important as the ships themselves.
Outcome
Short term: The quarantine helped force a negotiated rollback under intense global scrutiny.
Long term: It became a template for coercive maritime pressure without formal war declarations.
Why It's Relevant
The current campaign echoes the same trick: call it something else, then enforce it at sea.
U.S. seizure of the Morning Glory (Libya)
2014-03What Happened
U.S. forces boarded and took control of a tanker carrying oil described as illicitly obtained, after a request from Libya’s government. The operation happened in international waters and ended without casualties.
Outcome
Short term: The tanker was redirected back toward Libyan control, shutting down an attempted rogue oil sale.
Long term: It remained a rare modern example of the U.S. physically taking a commercial tanker at sea.
Why It's Relevant
It shows how exceptional tanker takeovers are—and how fast they become geopolitical symbols.
Largest U.S. seizure of Iranian fuel bound for Venezuela (forfeiture model)
2020-07 to 2020-08What Happened
The U.S. pursued cargo seizures via court orders and forfeiture complaints against multiple tankers tied to sanctions evasion. The focus was legal control of cargo rather than declared naval warfare.
Outcome
Short term: The U.S. obtained control over the fuel shipment through judicial process.
Long term: It reinforced a playbook: use courts and sanctions pressure to disrupt sanctioned energy flows.
Why It's Relevant
Today’s campaign appears to fuse that forfeiture logic with physical interdiction and public spectacle.