US pursues another oil tanker near Venezuela: Reports

According to US media reports, the US is pursuing an oil tanker in international waters close to Venezuela in what would be its second and third major oil-related operation in less than two weeks.

A US official told the Reuters news agency on Sunday that the US Guard was actively looking into a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that was a part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion.

It is being held in a judicial custody order, flying a false flag.

The tanker was being held accountable, according to another official, who also explained that the tanker had not yet been boarded and that interceptions could take various forms, including sailing or flying close to vessels of concern.

Under the condition of anonymity, the officials did not specify the location of the operation or the name of the vessel being pursued.

The Associated Press news agency also cited an official briefed on the operation separately for reporting on the pursuit of the tanker.

The official said Sunday’s pursuit involved “a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion,” adding the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Additionally, the official claimed that the ship was operating under a judicial seizure order and flying a false flag.

Two tankers were seized.

Following the US’s “blockade” ordered by US President Donald Trump on Saturday, an oil tanker was seized off Venezuela.

The coastguard apprehended the vessel with Pentagon support, according to US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Saturday.

She wrote that the United States would continue to investigate the illicit movement of sanctioned oil to finance narcotic terrorism in the area.

She continued, “We will find you, and we will stop you.”

The US has seized a tanker close to Venezuela twice in recent weeks, and this is in the context of a significant US military expansion there.

Trump ordered a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving the South American nation on Tuesday, following a “total and complete blockade” of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s administration.

In addition to the increased military presence in the area and more than 20 airstrikes against suspected drug traffickers in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, Trump’s pressure campaign on Maduro has also resulted in increased military presence. The attacks have claimed at least 100 lives.