Venezuelan Oil Exports Evade Blockade Using “Dark Mode” Tactics

At least 15 oil tankers, which are under U.S. sanctions, have reportedly employed “dark mode” strategies to avoid seizure and bypass a complete blockade on Venezuelan oil exports following the capture of former socialist leader Nicolás Maduro on Saturday.

The New York Times has indicated that one ship had been docked at a Venezuelan port for weeks. According to their report, these tankers used techniques similar to those of modern “ghost fleets” to evade sanctions. This includes, but isn’t limited to, repainting old vessels with new names, misrepresenting their locations, and coordinating their departures to slip through blockades.

As per satellite tracking, four of the tankers were observed sailing east, around 30 miles from the port. Notably, these tankers had not obtained permits from Maduro’s interim government. The remaining vessels are unaccounted for and are not transmitting any signals.

During a press conference about Maduro’s detention, President Trump emphasized, “The embargo on Venezuelan oil remains in full force. America’s Armada is still in position, and we hold all military options until our demands are completely satisfied.”

All tankers identified are under U.S. sanctions imposed by Trump on December 16, as reported by Reuters. “The only feasible method for oil-laden tankers to navigate a blockade is to overwhelm it by sending out multiple ships,” stated Sameer Madani, co-founder of TankerTrackers.com. Notably, this organization was first to report on the escape of these tankers.

Recent developments indicate that the Venezuelan government has permitted at least four tankers to depart the port in recent days, utilizing similar dark mode tactics.

Throughout the blockade, three tankers have faced confrontations with U.S. forces. One vessel, known as the Skipper, was captured by the Coast Guard on December 10. Another, the Centuries, was boarded on December 20 but managed to avoid capture. The third ship, initially known as Vera 1 and now named Marinella, is being monitored by the U.S. military.

Weeks prior, U.S. authorities claimed to have a warrant for the seizure of a tanker called Bela 1, which was reportedly sailing from Iran to gather Venezuelan oil but was not displaying a valid national flag, thus rendering it stateless under international law. Following a formal request from the Russian government urging the U.S. military to cease its pursuit of the Bela 1, the crew painted the Russian flag on the vessel.

The blockade has resulted in Venezuela’s state-run oil company, PDVSA, accumulating excess inventory during the three-week lockdown, with its facilities nearing capacity. However, ceasing production risks potential damage to extraction infrastructure.

“As many know, the Venezuelan oil industry has been essentially bankrupt for a long time, producing far less than its potential,” Trump remarked during the conference. “We plan to attract a major American oil company to invest billions in repairing our damaged infrastructure and start generating revenue for our nation.”