The US has seized a sanctioned vessel in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, US officials have informed CBS News. This act marks the second time this month that the US has taken action against a vessel near the Venezuelan coast.
The seizure follows President Donald Trump's announcement on Tuesday ordering a blockade against sanctioned oil tankers either entering or leaving Venezuela.
While Venezuela has remained silent on this specific seizure, the nation has previously accused Washington of attempts to plunder its oil resources.
The BBC has reached out to the White House for comments on the matter.
The operation, guided by the US Coast Guard, saw the vessel boarded by a specialized tactical team, mirroring an earlier operation this month as reported by CBS.
In recent weeks, the US has increased its military presence in the Caribbean and has conducted operations against alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats, resulting in approximately 100 fatalities.
Despite accusations against Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro of commanding a designated terrorist organization known as Cartel de los Soles, the US has not publicly provided evidence that these vessels were engaged in drug trafficking, leading to scrutiny from Congress regarding military actions.
The Trump administration continues to condemn Maduro for supposedly financing various criminal activities through illicit means, including drug trade, human trafficking, and kidnapping, capitalizing on Venezuela's status as a country with the world's largest proven oil reserves.
Trump's blockade announcement came shortly after the US seized an oil tanker suspected of being part of a "ghost fleet" that utilized covert methods for its operations. The White House claimed that the detained vessel, identified as the Skipper, was involved in illicit oil shipping and would be redirected to a US port.
The Venezuelan government criticized this seizure, with Maduro claiming that the US had "kidnapped the crew" and "stolen" the ship.
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