Osint - International waters off Venezuela

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Incident Details

Incident Date & Time:

20 December 2025, 18:44 UTC

Location:

International waters off Venezuela

Latitude/Longitude: 

12° 45' 27.60" N, 68° 45' 19.20" W

Vessel Type, Name, Flag, IMO and Status:

Unknown

Incident Type:

Osint

Crew status

No injuries reported

Incident Details

Description

Open-source reports indicate that the U.S. Coast Guard is currently interdicting and seizing a vessel in international waters off Venezuela. The exact position has not been specified. This action reportedly follows U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of a "blockade" of all sanctioned oil Tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. U.S. officials making the announcement are speaking under condition of anonymity and have not provided the specific location where the incident is taking place.

Key findings

This interdiction represents a significant escalation in U.S. enforcement of Venezuelan oil sanctions, marking the transition from announced policy to active maritime enforcement operations. The Coast Guard's decision to conduct the seizure in international waters rather than territorial seas suggests careful legal positioning to avoid sovereignty violations while maximizing enforcement reach. The anonymity of U.S. officials and lack of specific location disclosure indicates operational security concerns, likely to prevent interference or escalation by Venezuelan naval forces. The timing immediately following Trump's blockade announcement demonstrates rapid operational implementation of policy directives.

The use of interdiction rather than boarding and release suggests this vessel was carrying sanctioned cargo or was otherwise in violation of U.S. sanctions regimes. The lack of resistance or incident reporting implies either the vessel complied with Coast Guard directives or was caught without opportunity for evasive action, indicating effective intelligence and positioning by U.S. forces.

Recommendations

-  Vessels operating near Venezuelan waters should maintain updated sanctions compliance documentation and be prepared for potential U.S. Coast Guard inspections.
-  Monitor official U.S. maritime enforcement announcements and adjust routing to avoid interdiction zones if carrying potentially sanctioned cargo.
-  Ensure crew are briefed on proper procedures for responding to military vessel approaches and boarding requests in international waters.

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