The US Coast Guard is actively pursuing an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, marking the third such interception attempt in less than two weeks, officials said. The vessel, identified by maritime trackers as the Bella 1, is part of what Washington calls Venezuela’s “dark fleet” of ships accused of helping the South American nation evade sanctions. The tanker is reportedly flying a false flag and is under a US judicial seizure order, though it had not been boarded at the time of reporting.
The pursuit follows recent seizures of other tankers believed to be involved in transporting Venezuelan crude in defiance of sanctions. On December 10, the Coast Guard seized the large tanker Skipper, sanctioned for its alleged involvement in sanctions‑evasion networks. A second vessel, the Centuries, was intercepted and boarded by US forces just days ago.
These operations form part of a blockade ordered by the US president on all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan waters. The administration has positioned the crackdown as an effort to enforce sanctions on the Venezuelan government and cut off revenue it claims supports illicit activities, including narcotics trafficking and terrorism.
Officials argue that targeting these tankers is necessary to prevent sanctions evasion and deny revenue to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government. They also assert that the actions are unlikely to significantly affect domestic oil prices, though global crude benchmarks rose modestly in early Asian trading amid the tensions.
The intensified maritime operations are occurring alongside a broader military presence in the Caribbean, including air and naval assets deployed under what officials describe as efforts against drug trafficking and sanctions runners. Critics, including some lawmakers and international commentators, warn that the blockade and interceptions could increase geopolitical risks and strain diplomatic relations.
Venezuela’s government has condemned these actions as illegal and tantamount to piracy, promising to challenge the moves through international bodies such as the United Nations. Maduro has reiterated that Venezuela will continue its oil trade in the face of pressure.
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