The US Coast Guard is “actively pursuing” another ship in international waters near Venezuela, an official told BBC US partner CBS News, as tensions in the region continue to rise.
US authorities have already seized two oil tankers this month, one of them on Saturday.
Sunday’s chase was related to a “sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion,” a U.S. official said. “He is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order.”
Washington has accused Venezuela of using oil money to finance drug crimes, while Venezuela has described the oil tanker seizures as “robbery and kidnapping.”
US President Donald Trump last week ordered a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers 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 authorities have not yet officially confirmed Sunday’s chase and the exact location and name of the tanker involved are not yet known.
As of last week, more than 30 of the 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, a Panamanian-flagged oil tanker was boarded by a tactical team specialized in international waters.
That ship is not on the US Treasury’s list of sanctioned vessels, but the US has said it was carrying “sanctioned PDVSA oil.” In the past five years the ship has also sailed under the flags of Greece and Liberia, according to records seen by BBC Verify.
“These acts will not go unpunished,” the Venezuelan government said in response to Saturday’s incident. He added that he intended to file a complaint with the UN Security Council and “other multilateral agencies and world governments.”
Venezuela relies heavily on revenue from its oil exports to finance its government spending.
In recent weeks, the United States has increased its military presence in the Caribbean Sea and carried out deadly attacks against suspected Venezuelan drug trafficking vessels, killing about 100 people.
It has provided no public evidence that these ships were transporting drugs, and the military has come under increasing scrutiny from Congress over the attacks.
The Trump administration has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a terrorist organization called the Cartel of the Suns, which he denies.
