Fresh off seizing an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast, the United States is ramping up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—including imposing sanctions on his relatives and preparing to intercept more vessels carrying Venezuelan oil.

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday (December 11) that the U.S. would soon launch a crackdown on drug shipments traveling overland from Venezuela to the United States. In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly threatened to take action against overland drug smuggling.

Earlier on Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions targeting three nephews of President Maduro’s wife, six oil tankers involved in transporting Venezuelan crude, and the shipping companies affiliated with them. The Treasury stated that these tankers "engage in deceptive and unsafe shipping practices while continuing to fund Maduro’s corrupt narco-terrorist regime".

In a statement, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said: "Maduro and his criminal network flood the United States with illegal drugs, poisoning the American people."

Citing six people familiar with the matter, Reuters reported that following the seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast this Wednesday, the U.S. is poised to intercept more vessels carrying Venezuelan oil to escalate pressure on Maduro. Shipping sources noted that the seizure has put shipowners, operators and maritime agencies involved in Venezuelan crude transportation on high alert, with many reconsidering whether to depart Venezuelan waters as scheduled. A source familiar with the matter revealed that the U.S. has drawn up a target list identifying multiple sanctioned tankers that could be subject to seizure.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday that the tanker seized off Venezuela’s coast on Wednesday would be brought to a U.S. port, and the U.S. is prepared to confiscate the oil it was carrying.

Maduro condemned the U.S. tanker seizure as an act of piracy, stating that he would pursue all appropriate legal and diplomatic avenues to ensure that Venezuelan oil can be sold worldwide. Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Maduro on Thursday, expressing solidarity with the Venezuelan people and reaffirming support for the Maduro government’s policies to safeguard national sovereignty and interests amid mounting external pressure.

Trump’s intensified pressure aimed at forcing Maduro out of office has raised the possibility that Maduro might seek asylum overseas. Sources disclosed that during a phone call with Trump last month, Maduro signaled his willingness to leave Venezuela, on the condition that he and his family receive a full legal pardon.

Fresh off seizing an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast, the United States is ramping up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—including imposing sanctions on his relatives and preparing to intercept more vessels carrying Venezuelan oil.

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday (December 11) that the U.S. would soon launch a crackdown on drug shipments traveling overland from Venezuela to the United States. In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly threatened to take action against overland drug smuggling.

Earlier on Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions targeting three nephews of President Maduro’s wife, six oil tankers involved in transporting Venezuelan crude, and the shipping companies affiliated with them. The Treasury stated that these tankers "engage in deceptive and unsafe shipping practices while continuing to fund Maduro’s corrupt narco-terrorist regime".

In a statement, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said: "Maduro and his criminal network flood the United States with illegal drugs, poisoning the American people."

Citing six people familiar with the matter, Reuters reported that following the seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast this Wednesday, the U.S. is poised to intercept more vessels carrying Venezuelan oil to escalate pressure on Maduro. Shipping sources noted that the seizure has put shipowners, operators and maritime agencies involved in Venezuelan crude transportation on high alert, with many reconsidering whether to depart Venezuelan waters as scheduled. A source familiar with the matter revealed that the U.S. has drawn up a target list identifying multiple sanctioned tankers that could be subject to seizure.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday that the tanker seized off Venezuela’s coast on Wednesday would be brought to a U.S. port, and the U.S. is prepared to confiscate the oil it was carrying.

Maduro condemned the U.S. tanker seizure as an act of piracy, stating that he would pursue all appropriate legal and diplomatic avenues to ensure that Venezuelan oil can be sold worldwide. Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Maduro on Thursday, expressing solidarity with the Venezuelan people and reaffirming support for the Maduro government’s policies to safeguard national sovereignty and interests amid mounting external pressure.

Trump’s intensified pressure aimed at forcing Maduro out of office has raised the possibility that Maduro might seek asylum overseas. Sources disclosed that during a phone call with Trump last month, Maduro signaled his willingness to leave Venezuela, on the condition that he and his family receive a full legal pardon.