DONALD Trump ordered the capture of another oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in a dramatic early morning operation.
The pre-dawn move in the early hours of December 20 comes amid growing tensions between the Caribbean country and the Trump administration.
It is the second oil ship taken this month as Washington steps up its crackdown on vessels linked to the South American state.
The bold move comes after US President Donald Trump said days ago he was ordering a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
Trump said on Truth Social: “I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela.”
He continued: “The Illegal Aliens and Criminals that the Maduro Regime has sent into the United States during the weak and inept Biden Administration, are being returned to Venezuela at a rapid pace.
“America will not allow Criminals, Terrorists, or other Countries, to rob, threaten, or harm our Nation and, likewise, will not allow a Hostile Regime to take our Oil, Land, or any other Assets, all of which must be returned to the United States, IMMEDIATELY.”
Footage released by US Homeland Security Secretary Ms Noem of the raid,shows helicopters swooping in as armed teams stormed the vessel during the daring operation.
The latest ship was intercepted by the US Coast Guard while sailing in international waters after recently leaving Venezuela, according to the US Department of Homeland Security.
Secretary Kristi Noem of the Department of Homeland Security issued a warning to Maduro’s regime.
The tanker, named Centuries, is a Panamanian flagged crude oil ship built in 2001, according to vessel tracking website Vessel Finder.
It is not yet clear whether the ship itself was under US sanctions.
Venezuela has not responded to the latest seizure, but has previously accused Washington of trying to steal its oil.
Brazil‘s President Lula chimed in on the situation and said an “armed intervention in Venezuela would be a humanitarian catastrophe” after the US seized the second tanker.
Ms Noem, confirming the operation on X, said the oil tanker had last docked in Venezuela.
She posted: “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.”
The latest seized vessel is believed to be the Panama-flagged Centuries, according to the maritime risk management company Vanguard.
It’s understood that the operation was led by the Coast Guard with the US military providing helicopter support.
The dramatic action mirrors a similar raid earlier this month when the US seized another tanker believed to be part of a so called “ghost fleet”.
That vessel, named the Skipper, was accused by the White House of being involved in “illicit oil shipping” and was ordered to a US port.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro hit out at the move, accusing the US of “kidnapping the crew” and “stealing” the ship.
The US has also ramped up its military presence in the Caribbean in recent weeks, carrying out deadly strikes on boats it claims were involved in drug smuggling.
Around 100 people have reportedly been killed in the operations, though the US has not publicly provided evidence the boats were carrying drugs.
The strikes have drawn growing scrutiny from Congress.
So far, the Trump administration’s drone strike campaign against Venezuelan boats have killed 95 people.
