The US has seized a sanctioned vessel in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, US officials have told CBS News. It is the second time this month that the US has confiscated a vessel off the country's coast.
This action follows an order from President Donald Trump, who announced on Tuesday a 'blockade' of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has yet to respond to this latest seizure but has previously claimed that the US is attempting to steal its oil resources.
The operation was executed by the US Coast Guard, mirroring an earlier confiscation earlier this month. A specialized tactical team boarded the ship during the operation.
In recent weeks, the US has significantly increased its military presence in the Caribbean Sea and has conducted strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats, resulting in casualties estimated at around 100 people. However, the US has provided no public evidence that these vessels were indeed carrying drugs, and the military's actions have attracted scrutiny from Congress.
Washington has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a terrorist organization known as the Cartel de los Soles, a claim that Maduro denies. The Trump administration alleges that he and the group utilize 'stolen' oil to fund terrorism and other illicit activities, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping.
Venezuela, which possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, heavily relies on oil revenue to sustain government spending. Trump's announcement of a blockade comes just days after the US had seized another oil tanker considered part of a 'ghost fleet' operating off the coast of Venezuela, which is said to employ various tactics to camouflage its operations.
The White House indicated that the vessel in question, named the Skipper, was involved in 'illicit oil shipping' and would be brought to a US port. Maduro condemned the action, stating that the US 'kidnapped the crew' and 'stole' the ship.
This breaking news story is ongoing; further details will be provided as they become available.
