The United States has intercepted an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela, said US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. On Sunday, Noem said the operation was carried out before dawn on December
20 by the US Coast Guard with support from the Department of War.
She said the tanker was stopped as part of efforts to curb the illegal movement of sanctioned oil. According to Noem, such oil is used to fund narco-terrorism in the region.
“In a pre-dawn action early this morning on Dec. 20, the US Coast Guard with the support of the Department of War apprehended an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela. The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region. We will find you, and we will stop you,” reads her post on X.
In a pre-dawn action early this morning on Dec. 20, the US Coast Guard with the support of the Department of War apprehended an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela. The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund…pic.twitter.com/nSZ4mi6axc
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) December 20, 2025 " rel="nofollow">http://In a pre-dawn action early this morning on Dec. 20, the US Coast Guard with the support of the Department of War apprehended an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela.
The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund… pic.twitter.com/nSZ4mi6axc— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) December 20, 2025
This was the second such interception near Venezuela in recent weeks and comes amid a growing US military presence in the region.
Since the first tanker seizure last week, many oil-loaded vessels have stayed in Venezuelan waters to avoid interception. As a result, Venezuelan crude exports have fallen sharply.
While many tankers linked to Venezuela are sanctioned, others carrying oil from Iran and Russia are not. Some firms, including US-based Chevron, transport Venezuelan oil using authorised vessels.
China remains the largest buyer of Venezuelan crude, accounting for about four per cent of its imports.
