September 30, 2020 – Today, the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) challenged Venezuela’s excessive maritime claims in international waters during a successful freedom of navigation operation in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. Navy previously contested Venezuela’s excessive claims on July 15, when the USS Pinckney (DDG 91) lawfully and peacefully asserted internationally-recognized maritime…
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Largest U.S. Seizure of Iranian Fuel from Four Tankers
August 14, 2020 – The Justice Department today announced the successful disruption of a multimillion dollar fuel shipment by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a designated foreign terrorist organization, that was bound for Venezuela. These actions represent the government’s largest-ever seizure of fuel shipments from Iran. On July 2, 2020, the United States filed a complaint seeking to forfeit…
Read MoreUSS Pinckney Challenges Venezuela’s Excessive Maritime Claim
July 15, 2020 – Today, USS Pinckney (DDG 91) challenged Venezuela’s excessive maritime claim in international waters during a successful freedom of navigation operation in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. Navy previously contested Venezuela’s excessive claim June 23, when the USS Nitze (DDG 94) lawfully and peacefully completed a similar operation in international waters outside of Venezuela’s 12 nautical-mile territorial…
Read MoreWarrant and Complaint Seek Seizure of All Iranian Gasoil Aboard Four Tankers Headed to Venezuela Based on Connection to IRGC
July 2, 2020 – A forfeiture complaint and warrant were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that all petroleum-product cargo aboard the Bella with international maritime organization (IMO) number 9208124, the Bering with IMO number 9149225, the Pandi with IMO number 9105073, and the Luna with IMO number 9208100 are subject to forfeiture based…
Read MoreUSS Nitze Conducts “Freedom of Navigation” off Venezuela
June 23, 2020 – USS Nitze (DDG 94) conducted a freedom of navigation operation, contesting an excessive maritime claim by Venezuela. The U.S. Navy ship conducted the operation in international waters outside Venezuela’s 12 nautical-mile territorial jurisdiction. During the operation, the ship lawfully navigated an area the illegitimate Maduro regime falsely claims to have control over, a claim that is…
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