An animation detailing the route of an oil tanker seized by the United States government has brought new attention to a sweeping enforcement action ordered under the Trump administration. The seizure, announced by President Donald Trump, targeted a vessel with a documented history of violating U.S. sanctions by transporting oil linked to Venezuela and Iran.

According to U.S. officials, the operation was designed to cut off critical revenue streams to Venezuela’s state-run oil company, PDVSA, which has long relied on illicit shipping networks to evade sanctions. The tanker’s movements, now publicly documented, show repeated efforts to bypass restrictions before U.S. authorities intervened.

The impact was immediate. Multiple tankers reportedly reversed course following the seizure, and more than 11 million barrels of oil are now stranded in Venezuelan waters. As a result, most Venezuelan oil exports have effectively come to a halt, with the exception of shipments authorized under Chevron’s special U.S. license.

Venezuela’s government responded by accusing the United States of piracy, escalating already strained relations. Tensions were further heightened by reports of a cyberattack targeting PDVSA’s systems, compounding operational challenges for the regime’s oil sector.

Analysts note that the seizure signals a renewed and aggressive U.S. approach to sanctions enforcement, particularly against networks facilitating oil exports for hostile regimes. Additional enforcement actions are widely expected, reinforcing the administration’s message that sanctions violations will be met with decisive consequences.