Western Media: US to seize dozens more Venezuela-linked oil tankers
The US government has filed for court warrants to steal dozens of oil tankers tied to the Venezuelan oil trade, according to sources familiar with the matter, as Washington intensifies its bid to control shipments in and out of the South American country.
In recent weeks, the US military and Coast Guard have intercepted at least five vessels in international waters that were either carrying Venezuelan crude or had done so previously. These actions were part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to pressure Venezuela and to control the nation’s oil exports.
Since the military operation earlier this month that resulted in Maduro’s abduction by US forces, the Trump administration has signaled its intention to control Venezuela’s oil resources indefinitely while attempting to rebuild the country’s struggling oil industry.
In December, President Donald Trump ordered a blockade aimed at preventing tankers sanctioned by the US from moving Venezuelan crude, a move that brought exports close to a standstill. Shipments have since resumed this week under the supervision of US authorities.
The US government has initiated multiple civil forfeiture actions in federal courts, primarily in Washington, DC, to enable the seizure of both oil cargoes and vessels involved in the trade, the sources told Reuters. The exact number of seizure warrants filed and those already received remains unclear, as legal filings are not public. However, dozens have reportedly been submitted.
Tanker pauses, further action possible
Sources to Reuters say there has been a temporary pause in US seizure actions since Friday, but operations could resume against vessels and cargoes not authorized by US authorities.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell reiterated on social media that the Department of Defense, along with other agencies, would “hunt down and interdict ALL dark fleet vessels transporting Venezuelan oil at the time and place of our choosing.”
This approach marks a significant escalation from previous US actions targeting sanctioned shipments from Iran between 2020 and 2023, when authorities typically seized only the oil cargo, not the vessel itself.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi noted that several other vessels remain under monitoring for potential enforcement actions after the seizure of the Bella‑1 tanker, a Russian‑flagged vessel taken in recent weeks. It was the first time in recent memory that the US military seized a Russian‑flagged ship.
