The USS Stockdale transited the Panama Canal early on September 23rd, 2025, replacing the USS Sampson, which was sighted arriving in San Diego on September 22nd, 2025. This naval repositioning occurred during a reporting window that began at 2:06 AM UTC and concluded at 4:06 AM UTC on the same day. The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102) was observed entering San Diego on September 22nd, according to footage from SanDiegoWebCam shared by MT Anderson on X. The movements suggest ongoing naval deployments and rotations. Previous reports from the early hours of September 23rd detailed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's vow to continue sending letters to U.S. President Donald Trump to "publicize the truth" about Venezuela. Maduro also alleged that a significant portion of South American cocaine traffic originates from vessels linked to banana companies belonging to Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, calling for U.S. intelligence agencies to investigate. These statements followed observations of at least three Sebin patrols surrounding the U.S. embassy in Caracas between 10:06 PM UTC and 1:06 AM UTC on September 23rd, as reported by journalist Orlando Avendaño. No official statements were released by the Venezuelan government or the U.S. Department of State regarding the embassy patrols or Maduro's allegations.
