The US forces intercepted Venezuelan oil tankers trying to evade the blockade imposed by Trump. 16 ships attempted to break the blockade, using concealment tactics.

President Trump imposed a "complete blockade" on sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers on December 16, and in recent days, at least 16 ships have attempted to evade this blockade. They have used tactics such as hiding their actual location and turning off transmission signals. Four of the ships were tracked sailing 30 miles off the coast, using false names and presenting incorrect positions. Additionally, U.S. forces have already intercepted three tankers attempting to trade Venezuelan oil.

Venezuela is facing pressure to export its oil, and storage facilities are nearing maximum capacity. Ships that have departed without authorization have been contracted by sanctioned traders, and most of the tankers involved were under sanctions for transporting Iranian and Russian oil. Techniques for evading sanctions are not new, and the ships have used false names and falsified coordinates to mask their activities.