By Micah Jonah
January 14, 2026
The United States has moved to obtain court warrants to seize dozens of additional oil tankers linked to Venezuela’s crude trade, according to sources familiar with the process, signaling a tougher phase in Washington’s effort to control oil shipments connected to the South American nation.
In recent weeks, US military and Coast Guard units have intercepted, taken control of five vessels in international waters that were either transporting Venezuelan crude or had done so previously. The actions form part of a wider strategy aimed at cutting off revenue streams tied to the Maduro government, following Washington’s announcement earlier this month that it intends to oversee Venezuela’s oil flows for an extended period.
Last month, the US imposed a blockade that sharply reduced Venezuela’s oil exports by stopping sanctioned vessels from loading or moving crude. Shipments have now resumed, but under strict US supervision, according to industry sources.
People briefed on the matter say the US government has filed several civil forfeiture cases in federal courts, mostly in Washington DC, to enable the seizure of both ships and cargoes connected to the trade. The exact number of warrants approved is not publicly known, but the filings are said to run into dozens.
Many of the vessels under watch are part of what officials describe as a shadow fleet, ships that operate with limited transparency and are often used to move oil from countries under sanctions such as Venezuela, Iran and Russia. Several tankers are still believed to be heading towards China, Venezuela’s biggest buyer, or have recently completed similar trips.
Sources added that there has been a brief pause in new interceptions since Friday, though enforcement could restart at any time against ships or cargoes not cleared by US authorities.
US officials have publicly warned that vessels attempting to move Venezuelan oil without approval could be stopped and confiscated. In earlier enforcement actions against Iran between 2020 and 2023, US authorities typically seized only the oil, not the ships themselves. The current approach, which includes taking control of entire vessels, marks a significant escalation.
One of the recent seizures involved a Russian flagged tanker that was not carrying oil at the time, drawing sharp criticism from Moscow. Russian officials described the move as unlawful and accused Washington of using force without legal basis, noting that Russia also depends on shadow fleet operations to move sanctioned oil.
For now, shipping companies and traders are watching closely, as the expanded legal actions and the threat of further seizures add new risks to anyone involved in moving Venezuelan crude across international waters.
