US Coast Guard actively pursuing another sanctioned vessel: Official

The United States Coast Guard is actively pursuing a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion, according to a U.S. official speaking to ABC News. The vessel is flying a false flag and is under a judicial seizure order.

This action comes shortly after the U.S. Coast Guard seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, just ten days following the seizure of another sanctioned oil tanker. Unlike the first vessel seized, the tanker captured on Saturday is not on any sanctions list maintained by the U.S., EU, U.K., or U.N., as reported by Kpler, a data firm specializing in tracking transportation and logistics networks.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the operation on Saturday, stating that the Coast Guard apprehended the tanker with support from the Department of Defense in a pre-dawn operation. Noem emphasized that the United States will continue to combat the illicit movement of sanctioned oil, which is often used to fund narco-terrorism in the region.

President Trump recently threatened to impose a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela, a move that could have severe repercussions on the Venezuelan economy, heavily reliant on oil exports. In response, Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro asserted that Venezuela would not succumb to being a colony of any foreign power.

The U.S. has deployed its largest military presence in the Caribbean in decades, including the world’s largest aircraft carrier. Additionally, the Pentagon has targeted 28 alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of at least 100 individuals. However, the Pentagon has not provided any public evidence that the boats were carrying illegal drugs or identified those killed.

The escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela highlight the ongoing struggle over sanctions evasion and the illicit trade of oil in the region. It remains to be seen how these developments will impact the geopolitical landscape in the coming weeks and months.