US President Donald Trump last week announced a “blockade” of all oil tankers under sanctions entering and leaving Venezuela.
The US Coast Guard is pursuing an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela in what would be the third in less than a week, officials said Sunday, as US President Donald Trump increases pressure on the South American nation. The move comes a week after Trump announced a “blockade” of all oil tankers under sanctions entering and leaving Venezuela. The officials, who were speaking on the condition of anonymity, did not give a specific location for the operation. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.
The pursuit of the tanker, which was confirmed by a U.S. official briefed on the operation, comes after the U.S. administration announced Saturday it had seized a tanker for the second time in less than two weeks.
The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the ongoing operation and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Sunday’s pursuit involved “a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion.”
The official said the vessel was flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order.
The Coast Guard’s pursuit of the tanker was first reported by Reuters.
