Overview
- Homeland Security and the Coast Guard confirmed a pre-dawn boarding in international waters with Defense Department support and helicopter insertion.
- This is the second seizure in about ten days, following the Dec. 10 boarding of the tanker Skipper.
- Reports conflict on whether Centuries is on a U.S. sanctions list, with some outlets saying it is sanctioned and others, including the New York Times, saying it is not.
- Caracas condemned the action as theft, alleged the crew’s forced disappearance, and pledged legal steps, as Iran, China, Russia, and Cuba voiced support for Venezuela.
- Industry sources said the cargo belongs to a China-based firm that ships Venezuelan crude to Chinese refineries, as exports have slowed since President Trump’s order targeting sanctioned tankers.