According to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the U.S. Coast Guard, with the assistance of the Defense Department, stopped the oil tanker, which was identified as the Centuries, a crude oil tanker flying under the flag of Panama. Noem confirmed the operation on social media, posting an unclassified video of a U.S. helicopter landing personnel on the vessel. The tanker was recently spotted near the Venezuelan coast, according to MarineTraffic, a project that tracks the movement of vessels around the globe using publicly available data.

The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco-terrorism, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security. The operation is part of a broader effort to pressure Maduro's government and restrict its access to revenue.

The seizure of the oil tanker follows a similar operation on December 10, when U.S. forces stopped an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. The Trump administration has been ramping up pressure on Maduro's government, which has been facing increasing economic and humanitarian crises.

The blockade announced by Trump aims to restrict the flow of oil from Venezuela, which is currently under U.S. sanctions. The move is seen as an effort to weaken Maduro's government and force him to negotiate with the opposition.

The operation has been met with mixed reactions from various stakeholders. Some have praised the move as a necessary step to prevent the flow of illicit oil, while others have expressed concerns about the potential impact on the Venezuelan people.

The current status of the operation is unclear, but officials have indicated that the U.S. will continue to monitor the situation and take action against any vessels attempting to breach the blockade. The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected in the coming days.