US pursues another sanctioned tanker near Venezuela

The United States is pursuing a tanker ship in international waters near Venezuela as President Donald Trump’s administration steps up its crackdown on the country’s oil industry, a US official said on Sunday.

The vessel, named Bella 1, was sailing toward Venezuela to load oil and is under US sanctions over alleged links to Iranian oil exports. US officials say the ship is part of a so-called shadow fleet used to transport oil from sanctioned countries, and a judicial warrant had been issued for its seizure.

When US Coast Guard personnel attempted to board the tanker, it continued sailing, prompting an active pursuit, according to officials speaking on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing operation.

“This is a sanctioned dark fleet vessel involved in Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion,” a US official said, adding that the ship was flying a false flag.

The move followed a similar operation a day earlier, when the US Coast Guard intercepted the Centuries tanker off Venezuela’s coast. US authorities said that vessel was carrying sanctioned Venezuelan oil, though it was not formally listed under sanctions.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the interceptions reflect Washington’s commitment to stopping the illicit trade of sanctioned oil, which US officials say helps finance criminal activity in the region.

The actions mark an escalation of pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with Trump recently ordering a complete blockade of sanctioned tankers entering and leaving the country. Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has condemned the measures as a threat to its sovereignty and vowed to respond through international channels.