December 20， 2025

The Coast Guard seized a second Venezuela-linked oil tanker early Saturday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced in a post on X, as the administration continues to pressure the South American country over drug trafficking.

“The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region,” Noem wrote. “We will find you, and we will stop you.”

The seizure marks the second oil tanker with ties to Venezuela the U.S. has nabbed in recent days. Just over a week ago, U.S. officials apprehended a major oil tanker bound for Cuba off the coast of Venezuela. Attorney General Pam Bondi later said the tanker had trafficked sanctioned oil from the South American petrostate and Iran.

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