US reportedly pursuing third oil tanker linked to Venezuela
As tensions continue to rise in the region, the US Coast Guard is “actively pursuing” another ship in international waters near Venezuela, an official told the BBC’s US partner CBS News.
US authorities have already seized two oil tankers this month; one of them on saturday.
A US official said Sunday’s pursuit involved “a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion.” “He is carrying a false flag and is under a judicial seizure order.”
Washington has accused Venezuela of using oil money to finance drug-related crimes, while describing the Venezuelan tanker seizures as “theft and kidnapping”.
US President Donald Trump last week ordered the “blockade” of oil tankers subject to sanctions entering and leaving the country.
Venezuela, home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has accused the Trump administration of trying to steal its resources.
US officials have yet to officially confirm Sunday’s pursuit, and the exact location and name of the tanker involved are not yet known.
As of last week, 30 of 80 ships in Venezuelan waters or approaching the country were under U.S. sanctions, according to data compiled by TankerTrackers.com.
In Saturday’s seizure, an expert tactical team was seen boarding a Panama-flagged tanker in international waters.
This ship is not on the US Treasury Department’s list of sanctioned ships, but the US said the ship was carrying “sanctioned PDVSA oil”. According to records reviewed by BBC Verify, the ship has also sailed under the Greek and Liberian flags in the last five years.
“These actions will not go unpunished,” the Venezuelan government said in response to Saturday’s incident. He added that he intends to complain to the UN Security Council and “other multilateral organizations and world governments”.
Venezuela is highly dependent on revenues from oil exports to finance government spending.
In recent weeks, the United States has increased its military presence in the Caribbean Sea, launching deadly attacks on boats allegedly smuggling Venezuelan drugs, killing nearly 100 people.
No public evidence has been presented that these ships were carrying drugs, and the military has come under increasing scrutiny from Congress over the attacks.
The Trump administration accuses Maduro of leading an organization described as a terrorist organization called Cartel de los Soles, but Maduro denies this.
