On Wednesday, January 7th, the United States successfully seized two sanctioned oil tankers. This action is part of the Trump administration’s blockade against Venezuela, indicating to the world that even though Venezuelan President Maduro has been ousted, the U.S. is still exerting comprehensive pressure on the country.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on the social media platform X that in the early hours of Wednesday, the U.S. Coast Guard carried out boarding operations on two “ghost fleet” oil tankers in coordinated actions. One tanker was located in the North Atlantic, and the other was in international waters near the Caribbean Sea. The tankers were identified as the “Bella 1” and the “Sophia”. These vessels had either recently docked in Venezuela or were en route to the country.
Noem also released a video of the tanker interception. She stated that the U.S. Coast Guard tactical team collaborated closely with counterparts from the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, and Department of State, utilizing their expertise to conduct operations and successfully complete the boarding missions within hours.
One of the tankers, the “Bella 1”, had attempted to evade the pursuit of the Coast Guard for weeks, even changing its flag and painting a new name on its hull to escape legal sanctions, but ultimately failed. The brave crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro pursued this tanker in the high seas and treacherous storms.
“This is the finest demonstration of our nation’s great fighting force. This is America’s priority at sea,” Noem declared. She further warned, “All the criminals around the world, listen up. You may run, but you can’t hide. The Trump administration has made it clear that after Maduro’s arrest, the U.S. will not halt pressure actions on Venezuela, including the oil blockade until positive changes are seen in the country. Oil revenue is a crucial economic lifeline for the rulers of Venezuela.”