US EditionThe United States Warns It Will Deprive Maduro of ‘the Resources He Uses to Fund’ Drug Trafficking
The U.S. seized two tankers carrying Venezuelan crude to cut off oil revenues funding drug-trafficking and armed groups, including 1.8 million barrels bound for China.
- U.S. officials said Washington is tightening sanctions targeting tankers moving Venezuelan crude to cut Nicolás Maduro's oil income, which funds the Cartel de los Soles and Tren de Aragua.
- The move tests how far sanctions enforcement at sea can go, drawing in China, Russia and regional mediators while Chile, Panama, and Argentina reiterate non-recognition of Maduro's legitimacy.
- U.S. authorities seized two tankers and pursued a third, with one vessel, Bella 1, resisting boarding, prompting plans for helicopter-supported Coast Guard teams.
- Caracas responded that the interdictions are `piracy` and Venezuela's National Assembly is advancing penalties up to 20 years for alleged support, while Samuel Moncada called the actions extortion.
- If interdictions become routine, shipping law and insurance markets could shift beyond Venezuela, Maduro warned that choking shipments risks harming vulnerable economies, while the U.N. Security Council debates sanctions amid calls from Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico for dialogue.
11 Articles
11 Articles
U.S. Warns It Will Cut Off Maduro’s “Resources” for Drug Trafficking
Key Points Washington is tightening sanctions by targeting the tankers that move Venezuelan crude. Caracas calls it “piracy,” warns of broader spillovers, and is pushing penalties of up to 20 years for alleged support. The deeper story is a test of how far sanctions enforcement at sea can go, with China, Russia and regional mediators […]
Tension has been unleashed between the US and Venezuela in the UN Security Council. There, the usual clashes between Donald Trump and Nicolás Maduro have entered the scene through the words of Mike Waltz, the permanent ambassador of the United States to the United Nations, who has assured that Washington will use "all its power" to crush drug cartels, and has referred directly to the drug addict for "financing the Cartel of the Suns."
The United States representative to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, launched one of Washington’s strongest accusations against the Venezuelan regime on Tuesday when he told the UN Security Council that dictator Nicolás Maduro “is a fugitive from U.S. justice and the head of the terrorist organization Cartel de Los Soles.”Read more]]>
TeleSUR, Latin American Summary, December 24, 2025. Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, said that the country received an “overwhelming support” from the member countries of the United Nations Security Council (UN), which held an emergency meeting on Tuesday to analyze the aggressions and threats exerted by the United States (US). During [...] La entrada Venezuela. President Maduro states that UN Security Council gives “overwhelming support” …
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
