Overview
- Homeland Security's chief said on Dec. 20 that U.S. forces seized a tanker that sailed from Venezuela, marking the second such operation after one on Dec. 10.
- Video released by U.S. officials showed an overflight during the boarding, and authorities framed the action as stopping illicit oil flows that finance drug-related activity.
- The seized vessel was reported as Panama-flagged with more than 1.8 million barrels of crude and believed bound for Asia, with some reports pointing to involvement by Chinese oil traders.
- A White House deputy press secretary said the cargo originated with Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, which is under U.S. sanctions.
- Panama's foreign minister announced an inquiry into suspected misuse of its flag, citing AIS shutdowns and name changes, and media accounts diverged over a possible third tanker, with Bloomberg correcting to say it was being tracked as Venezuela lodged protests and requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting.