U.S. Coast Guard Intercepts China-Bound Tanker Carrying Venezuelan Oil.

The U.S. Coast Guard, backed by Navy aviation assets, intercepted an oil tanker carrying up to 2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude in international waters east of Barbados on December 20, 2025. U.S. officials say the action underscores Washington’s intent to tighten enforcement against sanctioned Venezuelan oil exports and their overseas buyers.

The United States Coast Guard, operating with support from U.S. Navy aviation assets, intercepted an oil tanker in international waters east of Barbados after it departed Venezuela’s José Terminal with a massive crude oil cargo, according to information released by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on her official X account. The vessel, identified as the Centuries, was reportedly transporting between 1.8 and 2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil owned by Satau Tijana Oil Trading. This China-based firm has increasingly appeared in confidential PDVSA records linked to sanctioned oil sales.
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U.S. Coast Guard personnel conduct a high-risk boarding of the oil tanker Centuries in international waters east of Barbados, supported by U.S. Navy helicopters during a maritime interdiction operation targeting sanctioned Venezuelan crude en route to China. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War)

Unlike the Skipper, a sanctioned vessel seized earlier in December and previously designated on U.S. sanctions lists, the Centuries was not listed on any publicly available U.S. sanctions registry at the time of its boarding. However, U.S. officials declared that the tanker was operating under a false flag and was actively engaged in deceptive practices associated with Venezuela’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a network of tankers used to transport crude through falsified identities, spoofed transponder signals, and concealed ownership structures in order to evade sanctions enforcement.

The high-risk boarding was conducted by U.S. Coast Guard forces, with critical aerial support from MH-60T Jayhawk helicopters. These medium-range, multi-mission aircraft are a core maritime asset for the Coast Guard, capable of extended-range operations in challenging conditions. Outfitted with advanced radar, forward-looking infrared systems (FLIR), and rescue hoists, the MH-60T Jayhawk can support both surveillance and direct tactical support, including insertion of boarding teams onto hostile or non-compliant vessels. Its ability to conduct extended missions from cutters or land bases gives the Coast Guard a rapid interdiction capability in contested maritime zones.

Though U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed the identity of the boarding team, defense sources suggest the operation may have involved personnel from the Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT), a premier tactical element within the Coast Guard’s Deployable Specialized Forces. MSRT units are specially trained for high-threat maritime interdiction, including ship takedowns, counter-terrorism operations, non-compliant boardings, and hostage rescues. Equipped with tactical weapons, breaching tools, night-vision gear, and communications systems, MSRT teams can deploy rapidly by helicopter, such as the MH-60T, or by fast boat for complex maritime operations.

Although the MSRT's involvement has not been officially validated, its capabilities and mission profile closely align with the demands of a high-stakes interdiction like that involving the Centuries, especially given the geopolitical sensitivities and the size of the crew.

In a formal statement, Secretary Noem emphasized that the U.S. will act decisively against vessels involved in maritime deception tied to sanctioned regimes. “This operation is a warning to those using flags of convenience, false registries, and hidden ownership to traffic sanctioned cargo. If you attempt to evade U.S. law at sea, you will be found and stopped,” she said.

The response from Beijing was immediate. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the operation as a serious violation of international maritime law and accused the U.S. of applying its domestic sanctions extraterritorially to interfere with legitimate global trade. The Venezuelan government also denounced the seizure, accusing Washington of piracy in the Caribbean and declaring its intent to challenge the action at the United Nations.

Strategic analysts note that this operation reflects a sharp escalation in U.S. enforcement of its sanctions policy. By targeting a vessel not yet listed under Treasury Department sanctions but deemed complicit in circumventing them, Washington is shifting toward a more aggressive, intelligence-driven maritime posture. This blurs the line between law enforcement and power projection and signals that the U.S. will not wait for formal designations before acting on actionable intelligence.

The seizure also demonstrates a new operational model that relies heavily on integrating advanced aviation platforms, such as the MH-60T Jayhawk, with high-readiness tactical boarding units capable of conducting complex shipboard operations. This represents a doctrinal evolution for the Coast Guard, which is increasingly operating as a forward-enforcement arm of U.S. foreign policy in contested international waters.

The MH-60T Jayhawk is a multi-mission, medium-range helicopter derived from the U.S. Navy's SH-60 Seahawk and adapted to meet the U.S. Coast Guard's demanding maritime missions. It is designed for search and rescue, law enforcement, homeland security, and high-threat interdictions. Powered by twin General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft engines, the Jayhawk can operate in all-weather conditions and features advanced radar, forward-looking infrared sensors, GPS navigation, and secure communication systems. The helicopter also features a 275 kg (600-pound-capacity) hoist and is built with corrosion-resistant materials to support operations in maritime environments. In missions like the interception of the Centuries, the MH-60T plays a critical role in surveillance, rapid insertion of boarding teams, and aerial overwatch in contested waters.

Supporting such interdictions are the U.S. Coast Guard’s Maritime Security Response Teams, elite units that represent the service's highest tactical capability within its Deployable Specialized Forces. These teams are trained in direct action, counterterrorism, and non-compliant boarding missions. MSRT operators undergo intense training in close-quarters combat, fast-roping from helicopters, breaching techniques, and shipboard takedowns. They are equipped with suppressed M4 carbines, sidearms, breaching kits, and communications gear and are capable of conducting rapid assault operations at sea. While their participation in this operation has not been confirmed, MSRT units remain the Coast Guard’s go-to force for high-threat maritime enforcement actions requiring a fast, coordinated tactical response.

As the Centuries remains under U.S. control and its crew and cargo are investigated, further interdictions are expected in the region. The U.S. is actively tracking additional ships believed to be involved in sanction evasion schemes tied to Venezuela and Iran. Maritime surveillance efforts in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic approaches are being ramped up with support from Navy and Coast Guard assets, signaling that this is unlikely to be an isolated event.

This incident underscores the growing intersection of energy security, sanctions enforcement, and maritime law. With tankers now a geopolitical flashpoint, the United States appears ready to deploy its full maritime capabilities, not just legal but tactical, to deter and disrupt illicit energy flows that underpin the financial stability of regimes under U.S. pressure.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.