The United States seized an oil tanker off Venezuela early on December 20. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the operation, saying the US Coast Guard carried it out with Department of Defense support. The tanker was last docked in Venezuela. Noem shared a video showing US helicopters landing on the ship named 'Centuries.' She said, "In a pre-dawn action early this morning on December 20, the US Coast Guard with the support of the Department of War apprehended an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela." She added, "The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region. We will find you, and we will stop you. Thank you to our brave men and women of the @USCG and @DeptofWar." Venezuelan officials strongly condemned the move. Vice President Delcy Rodriguez called it "theft and kidnapping" and warned, "these acts will not go unpunished." She said, "those responsible for these serious events will answer to justice and to history for their criminal conduct." This is the second oil tanker seized by the US this month. On December 10, a US Coast Guard tactical team with support from Navy helicopters boarded and took control of 'The Skipper,' another sanctioned tanker involved in illegal oil operations linked to Venezuela. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump threatened to block all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, increasing pressure on President Nicolas Maduro's government. Trump posted, "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America. It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before." Maduro responded by saying Venezuela will keep trading oil and accused Trump of wanting regime change. "This will just not happen, never, never, never -- Venezuela will never be a colony of anything or anyone, never," Maduro declared.